Best Behavior Shows Versatility in Glass Slipper

Best Behavior had done nothing but sprint in her 18-race career, but trainer Marty Wolfson claimed her this summer feeling there was a little more to the 4-year-old filly.

A daughter of graded stakes winner Into Mischief, Best Behavior proved her trainer right by leading from gate to wire to capture the $110,000 Glass Slipper on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

The one-mile Glass Slipper was the fourth of eight stakes races worth $1 million in purses on the Claiming Crown program, which highlighted opening day of Gulfstream’s Championship Meet.

Under jockey Edgard Zayas, the leading rider at Gulfstream Park West’s recently concluded Fall Turf Festival meet, Best Behavior ($7.80) led through fractions of 23.35 seconds, 46.08 and 1:11.05 before opening up in the stretch to win by 2 ¼ lengths in 1:37.80.

Don’tcallmecharley finished second, with Pebble Beach Baby third. The 5-2 favorite, Rebecca’s Surprise, faded to sixth while Courtney Ryan, the winningest female in the country this year with 10 victories, wound up 11th in the 13-horse field.

“I wanted to try a route with her. She’s by Into Mischief, and I thought she’d stretch out,” Wolfson said. “I just told [Zayas] to try to relax her up front. He rode her perfect.”

Wolfson claimed Best Behavior for $62,500 on behalf of Miller Racing out of a six-furlong win on August 29 at Gulfstream, and she was second to graded stakes winner Merry Meadow in the Sky Beauty Stakes on November 1 at Gulfstream Park West.

“I wasn’t concerned with the mile,” Wolfson said. “All of her morning work is very relaxed. She’s not one of those speed-crazy fillies. She relaxes. She looked good today.”

Zayas was aboard Best Behavior for her optional claiming allowance win at Gulfstream in August. The longest previous race of her career was seven furlongs on August 11, 2013 at Woodbine.

“We had a plan to try to get the lead and relax as much as we can,” Zayas said. “She comes from running in a lot of sprints, and everything worked out good. She had something left in the stretch. I was confident because her trainer does such a great job running horses from sprints to routes.”

St. Borealis Sparkles in $110,000 Tiara

Under a patient ride from jockey Rafael Hernandez, St. Borealis split horses in mid-stretch and drew away for a 1 ¾-length victory over Rock On Baby in the $110,000 Tiara, the first of three Claiming Crown races on the turf.

Breaking from outside post 14, Hernandez kept St. Borealis reserved in the early going behind a pace of 24.05 seconds for the quarter-mile and 48.30 for the half set by Very Few Details before finding room around the turn for home.

The 4-year-old bay filly, owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey and trained by Mike Maker, hit the wire in 1:43.80 for 1 1/16 miles on a firm turf course, paying $29.80. Rock On Baby was second with Maker-trained Wild Swava finishing third.

“Rafael rode a great race,” Maker said. “As soon as they broke, he took her back and saved all the ground and she finished strong. It might be the best way to ride her.”

It was the third straight win for St. Borealis and second under her new connections, who claimed her for $16,000 out of an August 29 victory at Ellis Park and increased their all-time leading Claiming Crown victory total to 13 apiece.

“It’s been a great event,” Maker said. “Obviously, it’s a great turnout today. We’re happy to be a part of it.”

Source: Gulfstream Park Communications