Mi Bago victorious in the Dania Beach (Coglianese)
David Joseph/Gulfstream Park
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Gary Barber’s Mi Bago, a two-time turf stakes winner including the Nov. 29 Pulpit at Gulfstream Park in his prior start, had no trouble with the all-weather Tapeta course in a similarly impressive three-quarter-length victory in Wednesday’s $165,000 Dania Beach.
Taken off the grass following overnight rain, the one-mile Dania Beach was the second straight win for Mi Bago ($3.60), who inherited the favorite’s role at 4-5 following the scratch of morning-line choice and Grade 1-placed stablemate Dream On.
Jockey Edwin Gonzalez, aboard for the first time in the 7 ½-furlong Pulpit, hustled Mi Bago to the lead and they were in front through a quarter-mile in 24.23 seconds and a half in 47.03, with Pulpit runner-up Hit That Review giving closest chase.
Mi Bago remained firmly in control after going six furlongs in 1:10.41 and had plenty left to hold sway over Hammerhead, who overtook Hit That Review for second rounding the far turn and made a belated bid. Maui Strong, unruly at the starting gate, got up to the third followed by I Know I Know, Hit That Review, Nothingsubtle and Bucaro.
#4 MI BAGO ($3.60) goes gate-to-wire to win the $165,000 Dania Beach Stakes at @Gulfstream Park. The son of Vekoma has won 4 of his 6 lifetime races. Edwin Gonzalez was up for @markecasse.
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) January 1, 2025
The coverage of @GulfstreamPark presented by @claibornefarm continues on @FanDuelTV. pic.twitter.com/4eJxBBLt6v
Mi Bago was purchased privately following his front-running maiden triumph last August at Colonial Downs. In the first start for Barber and Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse, he was sixth in the Funny Cide for New York-breds then was switched to the turf where he won the open Algonquin sprinting five furlongs in October at Woodbine.
“[Assistant trainer] Nick [Tomlinson] didn’t give me too many instructions for the horse,” Gonzalez said. “Today I break out of the gate, he put me right there. He was pulling my arm, he wanted to keep going. I wanted to keep him in a nice and relaxed position, and he finished good. I think he’s a really good horse.”
