How to bet the Dania Beach Stakes

A competitive field of eight will run one mile on the Gulfstream Park turf in Wednesday’s $165,000 Dania Beach S. The especially progressive group features five contenders who have increased their Brisnet Speed figures in every lifetime race which makes the contest a tough one to narrow down to just a single horse. 

Dania Beach Wagers

• $4 exacta key box 6 with 2,4,7 ($24)
• $1 trifecta box 2,4,6,7 ($24)

#6 Maui Strong (8-1) comes in with just a maiden win to his credit, but I like how the colt has improved since stretching out in distance and expect him to move forward once again. By Kitten’s Joy, the chestnut colt was unplaced in a turf sprint at Saratoga in his debut and followed that up with a clear third in a maiden special weight event at Keeneland. The $275,000 yearling purchase broke through in his third effort with a powerful score beneath the Twin Spires when breaking from the 12 post, earning a hefty 99 Late Pace number in the process. He lands in a field with a lot of pace in it, and he figures to sit a nice trip while unhurried early under the guidance of Vincent Cheminaud. 

Dual stakes victor #4 Mi Bago (3-1) hasn’t improved with each try, but his first run on this course was excellent and he rates an obvious chance with something resembling his latest outing. One of two major players in the field for trainer Mark Casse, the Vekoma colt blitzed his opposition in the Pulpit S. by five widening lengths and has proven to be capable of winning from on the lead or off the pace at this stage of his development. Edwin Gonzalez will pilot the promising prospect. 

Summer S. (G1) third #2 Dream On (6-5) is the potential pace of the group and comes off a very good effort in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) when coming home fifth, beaten by just 2 1/4 lengths. The son of Not This Time is very quick and can carry his speed, and his running style will play well on this surface which is often very kind to forwardly placed runners, too. Irad Oritz, Jr. taking the reins for Casse is a bonus, too.

Pulpit runner-up #7 Hit That Review (5-1) continues to move in the right direction for Brendan Walsh and might be overlooked in the wagering. The No Nay Never colt has displayed a solid turn of foot going shorter distances and will relish the added ground in his first route attempt on Wednesday. Jorge Ruiz has the assignment.