Best of Me should find the going easier in local bow

If Best of Me shows up with her best stuff she will be a handful in a $50,000 optional claimer for fillies and mares that will serve as the feature Sunday at Emerald Downs. The 5 1/2-furlong dash drew six horses and goes as race 8 on a nine-race card that begins at 2 p.m. Pacific.

Best of Me hasn’t raced since she finished third in the $75,000 Beverly J. Lewis on Sept. 8 at Los Alamitos for trainer Peter Miller. She won her debut, so she can fire fresh, and she will appreciate the substantial class relief.

The winner of the Beverly Lewis, Gas Station Sushi, is a Grade 3 winner who was coming off a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Eight Belles at Churchill Downs, which is her only loss. Best of Me went into the race off a fourth-place finish in the Grade 2 Great Lady M., won by Grade 1 winner Marley’s Freedom. Marley’s Freedom came within a half-length of winning the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint last year.

Best of Me will be making her first start for trainer Blaine Wright on Sunday. Wright said he wanted to run her earlier at Golden Gate Fields but was unable to because his barn was under quarantine after a filly tested positive for the equine herpesvirus.

“She’s dead fit and has been ready to run for six weeks,” Wright said. “I had her ready to go at Golden Gate, but when the race came up my barn was under quarantine. She’s a quality filly.”

Best of Me will break from post 2 with Frank Ceballos riding.

Wright has another quality filly in the race in Bella Mia, who is a four-time sprint stakes winner at Emerald. She is making her first start since she finished third in the Washington Oaks on July 22.

“I like everything about her except her breaking from the one hole,” Wright said.

Wright said both fillies are being pointed to the $50,000 Hastings on May 27 at Emerald.

KEY CONTENDERS

Best of Me, by Super Saver

Last 3 Beyers: 74-80-79

◗ She held her own while running against a couple of the top 3-year-old fillies in the country last year, and her bullet four-furlong move in 46.80 seconds here April 21 indicates she likes the local surface.

◗ She could get a nice trip sitting just off what figures to be a fast and contested pace.

Bella Mia, by Harbor the Gold

Last 3 Beyers: 54-69-70

◗ She may have distance limitations, but she is a crack sprinter and is perfect in two starts going 5 1/2 furlongs.

No Talking Back, by Flatter

Last 3 Beyers: 73-64-80

◗ Trained by Chris Stenslie, she rallied to win her first two starts last year, and with plenty of speed signed on the shape of the race could work for her. She might want just a bit more distance, though.