Mr Speaker takes control of Dania Beach

Mr Speaker closed boldly after straightening into the stretch, reaching the

lead with a furlong remaining, and dominated late while finishing a mile in 1:36

3/5 on the firm ground.

"As soon as the hole opened up, he shot right through," Lezcano said. "He

showed me a lot."

When asked if he had any anxious moments during the running of the Dania

Beach, McGaughey quipped, "I'd rather get stopped on the rail than go wide."

Overlooked as the 10-1 sixth choice among nine rivals, Mr Speaker paid $23.40 to win.

Cabo Cat, the 37-1 longest shot in the field, rallied widest of all off the

far turn and finished up well for second, a half-length better than the

late-running Pleuven in third. Next under the wire came Yes I'm Lucky,

Imaginethatmom, Here's Johnny, Hesinfront, Bon Accord and 5-2 favorite Request.

Mr Speaker needed three starts to earn his first win, graduating with a 2

3/4-length victory over maiden special weight rivals at Belmont Park on October

14, and he's raced exclusively on turf so far. With Saturday's $60,000 payday,

the dark bay has earned $119,880 from a 4-2-0-1 mark.

"I think his future is in front of him," McGaughey said. "He had been

training well and he ran well."

A Kentucky-bred son of Pulpit, Mr Speaker is the first stakes winner from the

Grade 2-placed mare Salute, a daughter of Unbridled who is out of the great

Personal Ensign. Named the 1988 champion older mare, Personal Ensign culminated

a perfect career (13 for 13) with a stirring nose win over Winning Colors in the

Breeders' Cup Distaff at Churchill Downs.

By Private Account, Personal Ensign has proved exceptional as well in the

breeding shed, earning Broodmare of the Year honors in 1996. She is the dam of

Grade 1 winners Miner's Mark, Traditionally and My Flag, who in turn produced

champion two-year-old filly Storm Flag Flying. This outstanding female family

stretches further, with Mr Speaker's third maternal dam, Grecian Banner, earning

Broodmare of the Year herself. She produced multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire

Personal Flag as well as Personal Ensign. Multiple Argentinean champion Dorine

is the fourth maternal dam.

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com