On another sparse Tuesday with all the major tracks shuttered, Handsome Mike had three starters at various venues around the country and struck for two winners and a third. The pair of winners gave him 13 for the year.
In a $29,700 maiden special at Finger Lakes, Striking Mike broke his maiden in his fifth start under Emanuel De Diego, who put the 3-year-old on the lead from the rail and fought off Ganondagan through early fractions of :23.16 and :47.10. He then pulled away in the stretch to win by 1 1/4 lengths while the 6/5 shot faded to third. The gelding owned and bred by Kathryn Wright and Samantha Vitalone was clocked in :53.61 for the 4 1/2 furlongs on a track labeled ‘good,’ paid $18.80, and collected a check for $14,520.
Last night, Don’t Spin Me spun her sixth career victory over a sloppy track at Mountaineer Park with Noel Vigil riding, earning a check for $4,350. The 5-year-old mare was bred by the highly successful quartet of Ed Seltzer, Beverly Anderson, and Joe and Helen Barbazon and was sent off at 7/2 in the race at 5 1/2 furlongs. Don’t Spin Me went to the front in a :22.86 quarter and proved to be easily best, battling back after briefly losing the lead at the top of the stretch and winning by 4 1/4 lengths. The $1,700 OBS October yearling has earned $59,963 and is 6-3-0 in 27 starts.