W W Handsome explodes by 9 in Gulfstream mile

W W Handsome scored perhaps the most impressive victory by Handsome Mike’s runners this year when he ran away and hid while breaking his maiden in a one-mile race in the slop at Gulfstream Park yesterday.

The 3-year-old gelding bred by Joe and Helen Barbazon in partnership with Lansdowne, stalked pacesetter Jack City on the inside down the backstretch until Samy Camacho asked him on the turn and W W Handsome exploded into the lead in the matter of a few strides. He widened the margin so quickly that track announcer Pete Aiello called it five or six lengths, but the Racing Form chart says it was nine at the wire.

W W Handsome paid $11.20 in becoming Handsome Mike’s 12th winner of 2019, earning $9,000 for the effort.