Vekoma’s Mi Bago dominates Kingston S. in front-running style
June 3, 2026
Mi Bago was at the top of his game in Wednesday’s $200,000 Kingston S. at Saratoga, winning the 1 1/16-mile turf race by 4 ½-lengths after leading at every point of call.
The 4-year-old son of Vekoma now has five stakes wins to his credit and has earned $705,900 for owner Gary Barber. Vekoma leads the Third-Crop Sire list in several categories, including with eight stakes winners and 17 stakes horses.
Mi Bago grabbed the lead just a few jumps out of the gate and after a brief challenge from Leon Blue in the first quarter-mile, opened up a four-length lead soon after turning onto the backstretch. Midway on the final bend, jockey Jose Ortiz looked back for the competition and found them far behind. Full of run down the stretch, Mi Bago stopped the timer in 1:39.61 on the firm turf, about a half-second off the track record.
“I think the firm turf helped,” said winning trainer Mark Casse. “Jose said he could have been tough with anybody.”
Mi Bago is now 7-1-0 in 17 starts. The bay gelding was bred in New York by Highclere, Inc.