Be Your Best Claims Third Straight Victory in Pegasus World Cup F&M Turf Invitational

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. — Be Your Best, a 5-year-old mare owned by Michael J. Ryan, secured her third consecutive victory with a narrow win in the Grade 2, $500,000 Pegasus World Cup F&M Turf Invitational at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. The mare edged out Sacred Wish by a neck in the 1 1/16-mile stakes race, continuing her impressive streak of close finishes.

Be Your Best, ridden by jockey Edgard Zayas, stalked front-runner In Our Time before accelerating in the stretch to claim the win. Sacred Wish, piloted by John Velazquez, closed fast but fell just short. In Our Time held on for third place, 2 1/2 lengths ahead of Pounce.

“It set up perfect, absolutely,” Zayas said. “Once (In Our Time) got in, I knew she was the speed of the speed. The plan was to get covered up behind her, and it worked out perfect.”

Velazquez acknowledged the challenge of catching Be Your Best in the final stretch. “When I got to the quarter pole, I said I’ve got to be Superman to get there,” he said.

Be Your Best, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., has found her stride since joining his barn in August. After starting her career with just two wins in her first 15 races, she has now won three straight against Graded stakes competition. Her previous victories included the Suwannee River (G3) at Gulfstream on Dec. 21, where she won by a length and a nose.

“Thank God she hung on,” Joseph said. “I thank Mike Ryan for giving her to us. He’s been a big supporter of me from very, very early.”

In other races at Gulfstream Park, Dashman pulled off a 19-1 upset in the $215,000 William L. McKnight (G3), winning by a nose over Cash Equity. Little Vic led wire-to-wire in the $165,000 Fred W. Hooper (G3), while Forever After All claimed her first stakes victory in the $165,000 La Prevoyante (G3) by a nose over Chop Chop. Coppola dominated the $165,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint, winning by a clear margin.

Be Your Best completed the Pegasus World Cup F&M Turf Invitational in 1:39.06, solidifying her status as a rising star in the turf racing world.