Handsome Mike fillies combine for handsome payoffs

The tote board was inundated with handsome payoffs after the official sign lit up following the 10th race at Gulfstream Park yesterday, and all were attributed to Handsome Mike.

The winner of the five-furlong turf race for maidens was Cookie Cove, a 4-year-old filly who became Handsome Mike’s 18th winner of 2020. With riding whiz Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, Cookie Cove went straight to the lead, and left the field in her wake after a quarter in :22.68. She held a five-length lead in mid-stretch and cruised to the wire under wraps by three. She paid $4.60 as favorite while earning a check for $10,400 for owner/breeder Patricia Generazio.

As Cookie Cove was coasting the last 100 yards, Tomas Mejia was flying down the middle of the track with first-time starter Caffeine Rush. The 3-year-old daughter of Handsome Mike easily was up for the place, at odds of 31-1, three lengths ahead of the show horse. Among all the juicy returns, the $2 Pleasant Acres exacta paid $113.20, and the $2 quinella returned $98.40.