Handsome Mike colt proved to be more than they could handle

Add Morethanicanhandle to the list of runners who showed little at the beginning of his career, then had the famed lightbulb go on one day and turn it all around.

The 3-year-old son of Handsome Mike might have been better off staying in the barn for his first four races; the closest he came to the winner was seven lengths in start No. 4 in June. Yesterday at Monmouth, however, someone turned the light switch on and the colt proved to be more than the field could handle, taking Andrea Mezzatesta wire-to-wire for a 2 1/4-length score in 1:42.73 for the 1 1/16 miles on the grass.

Handsome Mike’s 16th winner of 2022 paid $34.40 and put $11,400 in the bank for owner/breeder Mr Amore Stable. His ‘E’ speed figure of 75 was easily best of his five starts.