Jockey Sahin Civaci guides Mi Bago to victory in the bet365 Algonquin. (Woodbine/ Michael Burns Photo)
Leads Casse Trifecta
Chris Lomon, Woodbine
TORONTO, Ont. – Mi Bago, under Sahin Civaci, rallied late to take Saturday’s $175,000 bet365 Algonquin Stakes at Woodbine.
The bay sat off the early pace set by stablemate Mensa, one of five Mark Casse trainees, who took his seven rivals through a lively opening panel in :21.89 over an inner turf listed as good.
Still in front around the turn for home in the five-furlong race for 2-year-olds, Mensa was confronted by several rivals, including barn mates Mi Bago, Dare to Breeze, and even-money choice Bullet.
Dare to Breeze took control late, but Mi Bago was able to track down the leader in the last strides to earn a hard-fought neck victory. Bullet was another half-length back in third, followed by Sharedashenanigans.
Unbridled Weather, Pop Rox, Mensa and French Horn, the other Casse pair, rounded out the order of finish.
The final time was :57.89.
“I look at the program and see what horses have a lot of speed,” said Civaci. “I just tried to get my horse out as fast as possible. And then if I step back and let him in between horses, that’s fine with me, and that’s what I did today.
“He had a little trouble getting around the turn, so I had to ask him a little bit there. And yeah, I just got up.”
It was the first stakes success for Mi Bago, sired by Vekoma out of the Indian Charlie mare Wabanaki, who won first time out at Colonial Downs on Aug. 1, a 2 ½-length score at five furlongs on the dirt.
The bay colt arrived at the Algonquin off a sixth in the Funny Cide Stakes, also run on the dirt, at Saratoga on Aug. 25.
Owned by Gary Barber, who purchased the colt after his maiden triumph, Mi Bago was bred in New York by Highclere, Inc.
Mi Bago paid $13.80 for the win. A $1 all-Casse trifecta returned $94.30.
