Handsome Mike closing in on $3 million lifetime

Handsome Mike is less than $73,000 from reaching the $3 million mark in progeny earnings after the easy victory of And I Know in the first race at Mahoning Valley yesterday.

The 5-year-old mare bred by Adolpho and Felicia Esposito was off last in a field of six going a mile and 70 yards, and from there, Jose Bracho steadily moved her into contention until she only had one horse left to catch as they turned into the stretch. And I Know disposed of the leader in a matter of seconds and went on to score by three lengths, paying $10.20 and earning a check of $5,880, which brought Handsome Mike’s total to $2,927,895.

And I Know became her sire’s seventh winner of 2021, and she was claimed out of the race based on her recent record of 1-3-2-2 in her last eight starts.

As the afternoon’s racing programs were coming to a close, Laurel Park switched to the simulcasting of races from San Isidro, Argentina, and it was only fitting that the Treasure Beach filly Laguardia ‘flew’ down the stretch to win a maiden special weight test at seven furlongs on the turf.

The 4-year-old filly was a good eight lengths from the front as the bulky field of 12 hit the long stretch after they had passed six furlongs in 1:11.97. Jockey Brian Enrique sent her after the leaders and Laguardia was able to get up in time to win by three-quarters in 1:24.22.

After sitting on the board at 5-1 for much of the betting, just after the field left the gate Laguardia’s odds dropped to 8/5 and she wound up paying just $5.40.