Best of Me's best gets the job done in Washington State Legislators Stakes
Best of Me got the worst of it when she finished fifth as the 9-5 favorite in the $50,000 Hastings on May 27 at Emerald Downs. She will try to make amends when she runs in the $50,000 Washington State Legislators Stakes on Sunday at Emerald. The 6 1/2-furlong dash drew 10 horses, eight of whom ran in the Hastings, including Ima Happy Cat, who took them all the way in the six-furlong sprint.
The Blaine Wright-trained Best of Me probably wasn’t going to beat Ima Happy Cat in the Hastings. Ima Happy Cat broke fair and square with the rest of the field, but she started so quickly, opening a clear lead right out of the gate, that is seemed like she had a head start. Plus, with six of the eight races on the day won by horses that held the lead at the quarter pole, the track was clearly favoring speed.
Best of Me loomed a threat turning for home, but was bumped and forced to steady at the sixteenth pole when her stablemate Bella Mia drifted out and bumped into her. Bella Mia, who finished second, was disqualified by the stewards and placed behind Best of Me.
If Best of Me runs back to her impressive win over Bella Mia in an optional claimer in her first start at Emerald on May 5 she will be tough to beat. If not, it becomes a wide-open affair.
Best of Me will break from post 2 with Franklin Ceballos retaining the mount.
KEY CONTENDERS
Best of Me, by Super Saver
Last 3 Beyers: 64-86-74
◗ She held her own running against good company in California as a 3-year-old, and it is possible she bounced in the Hastings after earning a career-best Beyer Speed Figure for her win coming off a long layoff in her first start at Emerald.
◗ With two bullet interim works, she looks ready to rebound from her disappointing performance in the Hastings.
Dontkissntell, by Rosberg
Last 3 Beyers: 76-85-50
◗ Trained by Tom Wenzel, the Washington Cup Sophomore Fillies winner was rolling late in the Hastings, but lost some momentum when Best of Me bumped into her after reacting to Bella Mia’s antics. She went into the race off an eighth-length romp in her first start as a 4-year-old and could get a nice trip from a stalking position.
Ima Happy Cat, by Smiling Tiger
Last 3 Beyers: 79-74-82
◗ Trained by Dan Markle, she broke like a rocket in the Hastings but is not a one-trick pony and is capable of stalking if she doesn’t get the jump on the other speed.
◗ She has never won a race that was longer than six furlongs.
Paddy’s Secret, by Paddy O’Prado
Last 3 Beyers: 76-76-72
◗ The Frank Lucarelli-trained 5-year-old was finishing fastest of all in the Hastings but ran out of real estate. With an extra sixteenth of a mile to work with and a plethora of speed in the field, she could get up in time.