It has been a very long time since anybody has been in a position to say Be Your Greatest has been her finest. After her effort within the Lengthy Island Stakes (G3T), it could be truthful to say her finest got here within the Nov. 10 race at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Entrance operating from the beginning, the Muhaarar filly did not wilt below late strain to win the $300,000, 1 3/8-mile inside turf problem for fillies and mares 3 and up.Â
It has been an extended journey again to the winner’s circle for Be Your Greatest, who final received in her second race, the P.G. Johnson Stakes greater than two years in the past at Saratoga Race Course. She wasn’t a misplaced trigger nonetheless, as she got here up simply quick a number of instances.
She misplaced by a neck within the 2023 Surprise Once more Stakes (G2T), then was a distant second within the Del Mar Oaks (G1T) two races later earlier than falling quick by 1 3/4 lengths within the American Oaks (G1T). Although she had been racing in graded firm for 12 of her final 13 begins, the filly simply hadn’t been in a position to put all of it collectively.
Till Sunday.
Jockey Frankie Dettori instantly moved the filly to the rail as they reached the primary flip and was content material with setting the tempo and forcing the ten rivals to chase them down.
“I used to be going the tempo that I needed to,” Dettori mentioned. “She wasn’t going sluggish, however she wasn’t going flat out. She had a superb rhythm, she was pricking her ears, and like I mentioned, nobody bothered me up entrance and after I stole these two lengths of the stretch, I used to be laborious to catch.”
Favored No Present Sammy Jo , who spent many of the race towards the again of the sector, made a feverish effort to attempt to steal the win from Be Your Greatest.
Jockey Flavien Prat was affected person in ready for his alternative to develop moderately than drive the problem early on. They had been practically final getting into the ultimate flip however Prat’s sense of timing couldn’t have been sharper.Â
Frankie Dettori jumps off of Be Your Greatest within the winner’s circle after taking the Lengthy Island Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack
Swinging out seven huge as the sector approached the higher stretch, No Present Sammy Jo exhibited spectacular closing pace, closing the hole on Be Your Greatest. Had she had two extra strides the result might need been completely different. The Lope de Vega filly was proper there on the wire, however was crushed by a nostril in a photograph end.
The ultimate time was 2:14.36 in favor of the Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee. The Lengthy Island was the second begin for Be Your Greatest since becoming a member of Joseph’s barn.
“(Joseph) left it as much as me. … They had been telling me what an important type she was,” Dettori mentioned. “I used to be in a position to dictate. Particularly on the inside observe, in case you are ready to not get taken on, then you might be at all times very laborious to catch. Flavien got here off the pack and I wasn’t certain.”
Be Your Greatest posted fractional instances of :24.23, :49.06, 1:14.65, 1:39.16, and a pair of:02.76. Immensitude and Avenue Niel completed third and fourth, respectively. Be Your Greatest paid $21.80 on a $2 win ticket.Â
Prat mentioned an early misstep by No Present Sammy Jo made all of the distinction for his mount. Â
“She jumped effectively, however everybody went,” he defined. “Going into the primary flip, I wasn’t fast sufficient, so I discover myself slightly additional again than I needed to be. Then after that she made a superb transfer, however that is it.”
Bred in Eire by proprietor Michael Ryan’s St. Croix Bloodstock, Be Your Greatest improves to 1-0-1 from 5 begins and $194,109 in earnings this yr and 3-3-2 from 16 begins and $538,359 in earnings lifetime.Â
Notes
- Dettori earned his first win in New York within the 1991 version of the Lengthy Island on the Luca Cumani-trained Shaima.
- Coach Brendan Walsh had received the earlier Lengthy Islands. He didn’t have an entry Sunday. Graham Movement, whose No Present Sammy Jo completed second, has 4 wins within the race.Â
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