Best Plan Yet ends losing streak in Forty Niner

Winless for six races after taking the $300,000 in Reality Stakes last year at 2, Best Plan Yet returned to peak form Saturday in the $75,000 Forty Niner Stakes at Gulfstream Park, winning by 1 1/2 lengths under a ground-saving trip from Jesus Rios.

Best Plan Yet rated in seventh early in the eight-horse Forty Niner for 3-year-old grass horses, well off the pace of Breitling Flyer, who set the pace with an opening half-mile in 47.22 seconds. As the field bunched the second turn, Rios and Best Plan Yet began to advance, moving into fourth while in traffic.

Then as Breitling Flyer and Ex Pirate, another front-runner, tried to spurt away from the pack entering the stretch, an opening appeared on the inside. Best Plan Yet shot through, catching the two leaders in midstretch and drawing away in the final furlong. He raced 1 1/16 miles on a firm turf course is 1:41.23, paying $8.80.

Breitling Flyer held on to be second on the Forty Niner, more than three lengths ahead of Ex Pirate, who outlasted Bolita Boyz in a photo for show.

A son of Hear No Evil, Best Plan is owned by his breeder, Jacks or Better Farm, and trained by Stanley Gold. Out of Bayou Plans, he is a half-brother to Midas Eyes, a Grade 1 winner, among other accomplished stakes winners.