Gulfstream Today 1.1.25: Mi Bago Goes the Distance in $165,000 Dania Beach

By David Joseph —-

GULFSTREAM TODAY

1.1.25

Mi Bago Goes the Distance in $165,000 Dania Beach

Jockey Jorge Ruiz Returns to Action Wednesday

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – 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-furlon 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.

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.”

Thursday’s Rainbow 6 Pool Estimated at $400,000

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 will have an estimated pool of $400,000 when racing resumes Thursday at Gulfstream Park.

Thursday’s Rainbow 6 sequence spans Races 4-9, kicked off by a five-furlong claiming event for older fillies and mares on the all-weather Tapeta course. Evanora is favored from outermost Post 8 in her second start off a $16,000 claim by trainer Victor Barboza Jr.

Race 7 is a maiden special weight for fillies and mares 4 and up going 1 3/16 miles on the Tapeta. Trainer Christophe Clement entered the pair of Moyglare Stud Farm, Ltd. homebred Tendresse, a first-time starter by Medaglia d’Oro, and fellow 4-year-old filly Diferencia, seventh in a one-mile maiden try Sept. 7 at Kentucky Downs.

The feature comes in Race 8, a third-level optional claiming allowance for fillies and mares 4 and older that marks the return of Juddmonte’s stakes winner Dazzling Blue. The 5-year-old Into Mischief mare, unraced since mid-June, has a record of 3-3-3 from nine starts including seconds in the Victory Ride (G3) and Winning Colors (G3) and thirds in the Raven Run (G2) and Prioress (G2).

The Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is only paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day’s pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.

Jockey Jorge Ruiz Returns to Action Wednesday

Jockey Jorge Ruiz returned to riding on Wednesday’s New Year’s Day holiday program at Gulfstream Park, four days after being helped from the track following a spill.

Ruiz, 39, finished second aboard 3-year-old filly Stubold in Wednesday’s opener, his first of four mounts on the day. The daughter of Sky Mesa came with a late run between horses but came up a nose short on the wire behind favored Lily Bird.

“I thought she won it,” Ruiz said. “We were right there. But, I am happy to be back. I have to thank God for taking care of me and my career. I feel good to start the new year.”

Ruiz was hurt after being thrown to the turf course when his mount, 3-year-old filly Roscoe Village, stumbled and fell shortly after the start of the Dec. 28 opener. Roscoe Village was uninjured. The track safety siren and lights were activated as Ruiz was being helped off track, causing several riders to pull up and resulting in the race being declared a no contest.

At the 2024-2025 Championship Meet, which began Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, Ruiz ranked eighth in wins (eight) and 11th in purse earnings ($288,195) from 58 mounts.

Who’s Hot: Jockey Tyler Gaffalione visited the winner’s circle twice Wednesday aboard Better Than Better ($8.60) in Race 3 and Horsepower ($16.80) in Race 6 … Brandywine Farm and Billions Stable’s Better Than Better was the 999th career victory for trainer Antonio Sano, who has one horse entered Thursday … Irad Ortiz Jr. also doubled with Bella Cleopatra ($3.60) in Race 4 and Space Launch ($4.20) in Race 7 … Both Bella Cleopatra and Five G ($12.40) in the $165,000 Fasig-Tipton Cash Run are trained by George Weaver.

About The Stronach Group and 1/ST

The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The Stronach Group’s 1/ST business (pronounced “First”) is North America’s preeminent Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering company and includes the 1/ST RACING & GAMING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY and 1/ST EXPERIENCE businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING & GAMING drives the best-in-class racing operations and gaming offerings at the company’s premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park – home of The California Crown and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); the Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park, The Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the operating group for 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, TSG Global Wagering Solutions (GWS) and XBTV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is racing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST EXPERIENCE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality through innovative content development, elevated national and local venue management and hospitality, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and procurement development. As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred racing on and off the track. The Stronach Group’s TSG Properties is responsible for the development of the company’s live, play and work communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). For more information email david.joseph@gulfstreampark.com and visit www.1st.com or follow @1ST_racing on Twitter or @1stracing on Instagram and Facebook.