Be Your Best made the most of a picture-perfect trip when debuted over this same track and distance July 31, sitting off the pace and powering home late to score by 3 1/4 lengths en route to a 'TDN Rising Star' nod. Bumped up to stakes company in just her second start, Be Your Best broke as the 6-5 choice and sat closer to the frontrunners this time, racing wide into the first turn in pursuit from third. Settled into a good stride against the hedge up the backstretch, she saved ground around the far turn before angling out two wide to challenge Recognize for the front. As room there closed, she tipped back to the rail in mid stretch and rallied through a tight spot inside to take command with a furlong to run. Whichwaze was closing behind but Be Your Best was already well clear for the 3 3/4-length win.
“The filly was so easy to ride,” said winning jockey Jose Ortiz. “She did whatever I asked her to do. She relaxed well and had a beautiful turn of foot turning for home. The rail opened up and she gave it to me. I feel like she didn't give me 100 percent – she was playing with her ears passing the wire. She's happy and Horacio [De Paz] has done an amazing job with her.”
Out of a full-sister to GSP Bay of Plenty and a half-sister to GISP Fortify (Distorted Humor), Be Your Best hails from the extended family of MG1SW Flagbird (Nureyev) as well as GISW & GI Longines Kentucky Oaks runner-up Little Belle (A.P. Indy). She is her dam's last reported foal. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
P. G. JOHNSON S., $150,000, Saratoga, 9-1, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:45.67, gd.
1–BE YOUR BEST (Ire), 122, f, 2, by Muhaarar (GB)
1st Dam: Kamakura, by Medaglia d'Oro
2nd Dam: Kotuku (GB), by A.P. Indy
3rd Dam: Flagbird, by Nureyev
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Michael J. Ryan; B-St. Croix
Bloodstock (IRE); T-Horacio De Paz; J-Jose L. Ortiz. $82,500.
Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $140,250.
2–Whichwaze, 120, f, 2, Cross Traffic–Deherewego, by Dehere.
($4,500 Wlg '20 KEENOV; $15,000 Ylg '21 OBSOCT).
1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Tina Casse; B-Old Chapel Farm LLC (VA);
T-Mark E. Casse. $30,000.
3–Recognize, 122, f, 2, Bolt d'Oro–Avendesora, by
Majesticperfection. ($270,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $190,000 RNA
2yo '22 OBSAPR). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Sequel Racing & Cypress
Creek Equine; B-Sequel Stallions NY & Lakland Farms (NY);
T-William I. Mott. $18,000.
Margins: 3 3/4, HF, NO. Odds: 1.35, 19.20, 10.90.
Also Ran: Idea Generation (Ire), Pachuca, Damaso, Lady Jasmine, Indian Spideroo. Scratched: Leave No Trace.
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