Casse nominates stakes winner Mi Bago for 2,000 Guineas

Trainer Mark Casse nominated Mi Bago, winner of three stakes in a row, to the Group 1 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on Kentucky Derby day, May 3.

“I think Mi Bago is an exceptional horse, and his win the other day was super impressive,” Casse told Racing Post. “I don’t know for sure whether he’ll go for the Guineas, and it’s a discussion I'll have to have with his owner.”

Owned by Gary Barber, Mi Bago led gate to wire to win the listed Colonel Liam Stakes on Saturday at Gulfstream Park by 4 3/4 lengths as the 2-1 favorite. The Vekoma colt is 5-for-7 in his career.

Casse, a member of the Canadian and U.S. halls of fame, noted that he had won the Queen Anne (G1) with Tepin at Ascot in 2016.

“It takes an extremely special horse for us to go over and be competitive, we know that,” Casse told Racing Post. “And in my mind he is that horse, so it’s under discussion.”

Among 57 nominees for the 2,000 Guineas, Aidan O’Brien has eight and Charlie Appleby has six.