Be Your Best Secures First Grade 1 Win in Gamely Stakes

Mike Ryan's homebred Be Your Best  dominated the $300,000 Gamely Stakes (G1T) to win by 2 3/4 lengths, earning her first grade 1 victory and the first ever win at Santa Anita Park for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

Sent off at odds of 2-1, Be Your Best broke sharply and went right to the lead under Irad Ortiz Jr. with No Show Sammy Jo  hot on her heels. The 5-year-old daughter of Muhaarar  exploded at the top of the stretch, leaving her rivals behind as she drew clear to finish the 1 1/16 mile race in 1:46.26. Lady Claypoole  finished second, with Liguria  settling for third.

Be You Best's winning time of 1:46.26 is the fastest recorded in the Gamely Stakes since champion Lady Eli 's win in 2017, when she finished in 1:45.29.

"When we had both scratches, they were both speed (horses)," said Ortiz about Alpha Bella  and Where's My Ring . "So I talked to the trainer and he told me, 'Ride your race, let her be heard," Ortiz said.

Be Your Best rebounded off a disappointing eighth-place finish in the Jenny Wiley Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland April 12. Prior to that, she had won the Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational Stakes (G2T) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 25. Following Monday evening's race, her bankroll was boosted to $1,086,559, now having a record of 6-3-2 from 20 starts.

"Last time, the ground was too soft. I thought she would like this ground more today. It's more like Gulfstream's firm turf. I let her relax and let her be happy. When I turned for home, I still had something in the tank."

"We knew she needed firm going on the turf and that is why we brought her out here," said Joseph. "Her last race, we got a lot of rain and she didn't like it."

Ortiz said she has improved in the past year and a half, following her gusty second-place finish to Anisette 

"That was a tough race, a nice filly (Anisette) beat me that day," said Ortiz, on Be Your Best's second-place finish in the 2023 American Oaks (G1T). "She ran so good that day, I think she's been improving this year, she's gotten more mentally better, and she relaxed and she gave me a good run at the end, so I'm happy with her."

"She is a very good filly and she showed it today," said Joseph. "This is really big for us. We'll see what the future brings for her."

Be Your Best paid $6.20 to win.

Video: Gamely S. (G1T)