Steph Being Steph grinds to victory in Golden Gate Debutante

Favored She’s No Drama seemed determined to live up to her name in Friday’s $51,925 Golden Gate Debutante at Golden Gate Fields.

But there was plenty of drama in the stretch, as Steph Being Steph ($8.40), who had sat behind the front-running favorite all the way, steadily wore her rival down to win the six-furlong race for 2-year-old fillies by three-quarters of a length in 1:10.23.

She’s No Drama broke sharply and had no trouble grabbing the lead. She set brisk fractions of 22.09, 44.64 and 56.98 seconds while maintaining an open lead. While She’s No Drama was cruising under Abel Cedillo, Steph Being Steph was being urged by jockey Aaron Gryder approaching the quarter pole.

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At the eighth pole, Steph Being Steph trailed by 2 1/2 lengths and didn’t seem to be going anywhere. But she continued to grind her way to the wire as She’s No Drama started to slow. Steph Being Steph, scratched from the $100,000 Desi Arnaz at seven furlongs on Saturday at Del Mar, kept coming and gamely wore down her rival.

Longshot Streetwithnoname rallied for third, another three-quarters of a length behind She’s No Drama.

Steph Being Steph, who ran second in the Anoakia Stakes at Santa Anita in her last start, earned $30,500 for her second career victory in four starts. She has now earned $72,145. The $240,000 OBS April purchase is owned by Blinkers On Racing Stable et al and trained by Brian Koriner.