Handsome Mike filly confounds the ‘bouncers’

Two weeks ago, Levy Land turned in a powerful, wire-to-wire performance at Gulfstream Park, drawing off to win by 5 1/4 lengths for the Rose Family Stable and trainer Barry Rose. In yesterday’s second race, the horde of “bounce” theorists no doubt dismissed the daughter of Handsome Mike, assuming she couldn’t win the one-mile race because she was returning too soon after her previous score. How wrong they were.

With Jairo Rendon riding, the 3-year-old filly bred by Midwest Thoroughbreds outdid her last, firing to the lead out of the gate and increasing her margin all the way to the wire. Levy Land was 6 1/2 lengths in front in mid-stretch and widened it to 9 1/4 at the finish. She earned $10,400 for her fourth career victory, raising her total to $60,760.

At Monmouth Park, Treasure Beach added an impressive winner of his own, as Newfound Treasure came from off the pace under Wilmer Garcia to record her third career victory. Racing one mile over the turf course, the 3-year-old filly bred by Stonehedge Farm made a strong move on the turn, then ran over Glamorous Thunder in the stretch to win by two lengths. She earned $12,600 for the victory and boosted her total to $52,286.