Mi Bago, Zulu Kingdom Lead Twice-Postponed Penn Mile

Following a three-race win streak at Gulfstream Park over the winter, Gary Barber's Mi Bago appeared to be one of the hottest 3-year-olds in the turf division. However, the Vekoma colt failed to follow up on his Florida form when sent northward, finishing 10th in Keeneland's Transylvania Stakes (G2T), fourth in the May 3 American Turf Stakes (G1T) at Churchill Downs, and second in the off-the-turf Pennine Ridge Stakes June 7 at Saratoga Race Course. Now, the Mark Casse trainee looks on the right path back to the winner's circle in the Penn Mile Stakes (G3T) June 27 at Penn National Race Course. The $400,000 race and other supporting turf stakes were twice delayed due to anticipated wet weather in the area. There is again a threat of showers Friday night. Should the Penn Mile go off as scheduled, Mi Bago will face a familiar foe in Zulu Kingdom (IRE), who defeated him by 1 3/4 lengths when victorious in the American Turf. Jose Ortiz has the mount on Mi Bago, the 7-2 second choice on the morning line behind the Flavien Prat-ridden Zulu Kingdom at 7-5. Zulu Kingdom is 5-for-6, his only loss coming when he was seventh in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) last fall. Chad Brown trains Zulu Kingdom, a Ten Sovereigns (IRE) ridgling, for Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, Bill Strauss, and Michael Caruso. Since the Penn Mile's inception in 2013, Casse has won the race twice, with the brilliant filly Catch a Glimpse in 2016 and with Moon Colony in 2019. Brown won the race in 2014 with Bobby's Kitten. Casse also runs D. J. Stable's Dream On, last-out winner of the Woodhaven Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack and grade 1-placed in the Summer Stakes (G1T) last year at Woodbine Candy Quest, Bessie Abott Face Laurelin in Penn Oaks Casse sends out two up-and-coming runners in Candy Quest and Bessie Abott (IRE) in the $150,000 Penn Oaks. Glassman Racing's Candy Quest eyes her first black-type victory after coming up a half-length short at the wire in the Sanibel Island Stakes March 29 at Gulfstream Park and fourth in the April 27 Memories of Silver Stakes at Aqueduct. Bessie Abott, meanwhile, was a troubled second in her North American debut in an April 12 Keeneland allowance contest before a distant runner-up finish behind her star stablemate Nitrogen in an off-the-grass running of the June 7 Wonder Again Stakes (G3) that was contested over a sloppy track at Saratoga. Newstead Stables' Laurelin (IRE), unbeaten in three starts and twice victorious in stakes, is favored for trainer Graham Motion.