While nothing would please his connections more than a victory, Behavioral Bias reassured them at 8yo he's still game to try.

The Bhupat Seemar trained-veteran returned to form with back-to-back 2nd-place finishes in the span of a week, the latter in a six-furlong handicap yesterday at Meydan Racecourse,

Seven days earlier, Behavioral Bias produced a bold three-wide rally to find only stablemate Imperial Empire too strong through the final eighth of a seven-furlong contest.

A majority of Behavioral Bias' career-best races have been over that distance, including 2nds to major U.S. stakes winners McCraken and No Dozing, plus a close 4th in Keeneland's Gr2 Commonwealth S.

Yet cutting back to six furlongs, the veteran again produced another strong rally to contend for top honors with fellow Kentucky-bred Notre Dame. This time, from further off the pace, Behavioral Bias and regular rider Pat Cosgrove commenced a bid on the turn, drew within a length of Notre Dame just over a furlong out, then held 2nd safe from favored Desert Doctor.

In all Behavioral Bias has placed seven times, including a third in the Gr3 Jebel Ali Mile debuting abroad, for owner Marwan Abdul Rahman Mohd Sharif Al Baidhaei.

Shamela Hanley photo.