Be Your Best Seeks Breeders’ Cup Berth in the Flower Bowl Stakes

A daughter of Muhaarar, who captured a top-level prize earlier this season, returns to action Saturday at Saratoga on just three weeks’ rest. She will look to capitalize on the “Win and You’re In” status of the GI Flower Bowl S., with a Breeders’ Cup ticket to Del Mar on the line

Be Your Best Looks to Punch Breeders’ Cup Ticket in Saratoga / ADAM COGLIANESE

SARATOGA SPRINGS , New York (Special for Turf Diario).- Anticipation is building at Saratoga ahead of Saturday’s GII Flower Bowl S., a 1 3/8-mile test on the inner turf for older fillies and mares that offers a $500,000 purse and, most importantly, a “Win and You’re In” berth into the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar. Slated as the 10th race on the program, the race has drawn a deep field led by Be Your Best (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}), who looks to rebound and secure her spot on the world stage.

Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., Be Your Best was last seen finishing third in the GII Beverly D. S. Aug. 9 at Colonial Downs. Tracking close behind Charlene’s Dream (Qurbaan) through fractions of :23.78, :48.30 and 1:11.63 over firm ground, the Irish-bred filly stayed on gamely but could not reel in the frontrunner, while Spanish Eyes (Zarak {Fr}) got up by a nose to claim the runner-up spot.

“I thought she ran well in the Beverly D., but tactically it didn’t quite work out,” Joseph Jr. admitted. “We figured the leader would come back, so we let her have it, and she never stopped. Sometimes you second-guess yourself, but we move forward now. The filly has been training great, and we think she’s ready to bounce back.”

Despite the quick three-week turnaround, Joseph opted to take advantage of the Flower Bowl’s Breeders’ Cup incentive. Be Your Best had an easy drill Aug. 24 at Saratoga, covering three furlongs in :38 on the main track.

Her 2024 campaign, while selective, has been high class. She prevailed by a nose in the GII Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational at Gulfstream Park in January, and in May secured her first Grade I success with a determined victory in the GI Gamely S. at Santa Anita. Since moving into Joseph’s barn last year, she has collected three graded wins and multiple placings. Saratoga also holds fond memories, as she debuted a winner here in 2022 before adding the Listed P.G. Johnson S.. Regular rider Edgard Zayas, who guided her to her biggest triumphs, will be aboard again from post 7.

The opposition, however, is formidable. Miguel Clement sends out a powerful trio led by La Mehana (Al Wukair {Ire}), who dominated the GII Glens Falls S. last out by 8 3/4 lengths while earning a 104 Beyer, the top figure in the field. Proven on soft going in France, she appears to be thriving in current form. Stablemates Bellezza (Siyouni {Fr}), winner of the GIII Sheepshead Bay S. in May, and In Time (Zarak {Fr}), a long-distance specialist, add further depth.

Also in the mix is Marksman Queen (Dubawi {Ire}), who wired the field in the GIII Robert G. Dick Memorial S. at Delaware Park, along with the consistent Long Ago (Roaring Lion {GB}), runner-up in the Glens Falls. Rounding out the lineup are Amber Cascade (Free Drop Billy) and Madame Mischief (Into Mischief), both stakes-placed.

With several committed speed types signed on, race shape and turf condition could prove decisive. For Be Your Best, the equation is simple: win and she’s in. A Flower Bowl victory would stamp her ticket to Del Mar and a date with the world’s elite turf mares.