Mi Bago Headlines Casse Trio in Kitten's Joy

With the Pegasus World Cup (G1) in the rearview mirror, the sophomores take center stage at Gulfstream Park Feb. 1 as the track plays host to five 3-year-old stakes. Among the offerings are a pair of $165,000 stakes on turf offering competitive fields.

Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse holds a strong hand in the 1 1/16-mile Kitten's Joy Stakes with three of the eight runners. Two of his entrants enter off consecutive wins while the third exits his debut victory.

Gary Barber's Mi Bago  has won three listed stakes over his last four starts, already banking $270,050 in his career. He's shown an affinity for Gulfstream no matter the surface, winning the 7 1/2-furlong Pulpit Stakes on turf by five lengths Nov. 29 before stretching out to one mile and 70 yards for an off-the-turf, three-quarter-length score in the Jan. 1 Dania Beach Stakes.

The New York-bred son of Vekoma   made the pace in both those efforts, but proved his ability to settle in the field while winning the five-furlong Algonquin Stakes at Woodbine in October.

His two stablemates could prove his toughest competition. Resolute Racing's Coco Cool  makes his stakes debut following a one-mile allowance victory at Turfway Park Dec. 6 over the Tapeta. The Omaha Beach   colt's lone turf start was a three-length maiden score traveling 6 1/2 furlongs at Woodbine.

West Point Thoroughbreds and James Politano's Walking in Memphis  is the third of the Casse trio, exiting a front-running debut victory by a neck Dec. 21 while traveling Saturday's course and distance.

Graham Motion enters Amerman Racing's Test Score  for his first start in three months. He exits a neck defeat when second to Chasing Liberty , who followed with a stakes win at Sam Houston Race Park Jan. 25, in the Nov. 1 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes at Del Mar, a race in which Mi Bago finished fifth.

Sackatoga Stable's Tiz Dashing  also makes his first start off a layoff, returning from a four-month gap since beaten a head in the 1 1/16-mile Awad Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack for trainer Barclay Tagg.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Alums Battle in Sweetest Chant

The fillies' version of the race, the Sweetest Chant Stakes, also has a matchup between Casse and Motion. Both trainers bring also-rans from the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T).

Casse's grade 1-placed Vixen  is unraced since sixth at Del Mar. After receiving a freshening, she returned to the work tab at the end of December and has trained steadily since. The Vekoma filly races for D. J. Stable and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.

Motion's grade 2-placed Correto  has run since her seventh in the Breeders' Cup, returning Jan. 4 at Gulfstream in the Ginger Brew Stakes. The Calumet Farm-owned English Channel filly received pressure on the lead throughout the one-mile journey, surrendering late and finishing fifth while beaten 2 1/2 lengths.