Handsome Mike moves up freshman sire list

There are 92 stallions listed on the Blood-Horse freshman sire list for 2018, and Handsome Mike  moved up to 14th place after the victory of Running for Riz in a $65,000 maiden special at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. The colt bred by Jody Veitch and Linda Riznick became the fourth winner for the millionaire son of Scat Daddy, and the winner’s check of $43,000 raised his progeny earnings to $138,240, even with only eight starters. 

Miguel Vasquez was aboard Running for Riz in just his second start – he had finished fourth at odds of 38-1 in his debut. This time, off at 5/2, the colt went wire-to-wire behind blazing fractions of :21.90 and :45.24 and he was three lengths in front at the wire. The final clocking of :51.68 is just 4/5ths of a second off the track record for 4 1/2 furlongs. With four winners, Handsome Mike is tied for first among Florida’s freshman group.