Handsome Mike tied for 1st with eight January winners

With two more winners at Delta Downs in the past two days, Handsome Mike is still tied for first place among Florida’s stallions with a total of eight in January.

After winning at the Louisiana track on Nov. 16, Handsome Girl shipped to Tampa Bay Downs for a pair of races and posted a second and a third. Returning to Delta last night and racing 6 1/2 furlongs under Wallynette Rodriguez, the 4-year-old filly bred by Ponder Hill Farm scored by 2 3/4 lengths over even-money favorite Vagary and paid $12.60. The $8,400 winner’s check for Handsome Girl’s third career victory raised her earnings to $37,953.

Slammin’ Mike, a 4-year-old gelding bred by Shade Tree Thoroughbreds, was off quickly in a one-mile test with Tim Thornton aboard, and was head-and-head for the lead after a quarter. He drove clear at the half and sprinted away from the field, opening up a seven-length margin in the stretch and crossing the line 8 1/4 lengths in front for his second victory.

Handsome Mike has a 3-up winners’ lead among Florida’s third-crop sires.