HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Shug McGaughey won the Canadian Turf for the first time at Gulfstream Park 39 years ago with Vanlandingham. On Saturday, the Hall of Fame horseman captured the event for the fourth time after Fort Washington survived a close photo and a four-horse blanket finish, narrowly defeating Major Dude and even-money favorite Silent Heart in the Grade 3 fixture for older horses.
Fort Washington had gone winless in his last six starts dating back to his last victory early last summer in the Grade 3 Monmouth. He did run very credibly in each of those outings that included a neck setback in the Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale and strong fifth-place finish in the Pegasus World Cup Turf earlier in the session, a performance for which he earned a lifetime best 98 Beyer Speed Figure.
Fort Washington, as he is prone to do, broke a step slow and settled at the rear of the scratch reduced seven horse field in the run to the clubhouse turn. Jockey Junior Alvarado kept Fort Washington along the inside, saving ground into the stretch, before tipping out nearing the furlong marker. The pair finished best of all down the center of the course to be along in the final strides.
Major Dude, who won the Fort Lauderdale and finished sixth in the Pegasus World Cup, raced well placed while also kept along the rail by Irad Ortiz Jr. Major Dude joined for command inside Silent Heart leaving the final turn, held a narrow advantage through much of the stretch and just failed to last.
Silent Heart stalked the pace of Stanley House, moved three wide to engage for the lead into the stretch, succumbing grudgingly while drifting out to bump with Irish Aces nearing the wire. The latter was gaining on the leaders when bumped by Silent Heart and forced to take up sharply in late stretch.
After an inquiry into the incident, the result stood as is.
Fort Washington is a 6-year-old son of War Front owned by Major Cap Stables. He returned $13.00.
Fort Washington and Major Dude each earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 97, while Silent Heart and Irish Aces each earned 96 Beyers.
“He didn’t break very good, which he tends to do, and on this course with a short stretch I was a little bit worried. But Junior rode a great race on him,” said McGaughey. “He always shows up, he ran very well in the Pegasus from the outside post, he finished good and didn’t get beat very far. And this wasn’t the Pegasus. I’m always optimistic when I bring him over because I know he’s going to run a good race.”
Mi Bago runs away with Colonel Liam Stakes
Mi Bago became the first three-time stakes winner at the 2024-25 Championship meet and did so in style, drawing off to a convincing 4 3/4-length victory over Enterdadragon and six other over-matched rivals in the $215,000 Colonel Liam Stakes.
Mi Bago came into the one-mile Colonel Liam off victories earlier in the meet in the Pulpit and Dania Beach stakes, the former going 7 1/2 furlongs on the turf, the latter going one mile and 70 yards over the Tapeta course in a race originally carded on the grass.
With Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard for the first time, Mi Bago quickly sprinted clear and set lightning fast fractions over the very firm inner strip, posting splits of 22.55 seconds for the opening quarter, 45.53 to the half, and 1:08.84 for six furlongs. Despite the breakneck pace, Mi Bago had plenty in the tank when given the cue at the top of the lane, readily extending his advantage while kept under urging until near the wire.
Enterdadragon rallied from far back along the inside to narrowly be second best, finishing just a nose in front of George Briggs who surged late to be third after checking in some traffic near the three-sixteenths marker.
Mi Bago is owned by Gary Barber and trained by Mark Casse, who earlier sent out Vixen to a popular victory in the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride. A 3-year-old son of Vekoma, Mi Bago completed the distance in 1:32.51 and paid $6.20. Mi Bago earned a new career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 86.
“I was a little concerned as they were posting the fractions but I was watching Irad and it looked like the horse was moving effortlessly. And he ran really fast,” said Casse. “He’s just such an athlete."
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