Handsome Mike’s Thursday: two runners, two winners

After briefly losing his spot on Florida’s general sire list, Handsome Mike re-took ninth place when Caffeine Rush scored a stunning maiden-breaking victory at Gulfstream West, and first-timer Alabama Slammer followed suit four races later. They were the only runners competing yesterday for the son of Scat Daddy.

Racing five furlongs in a race that came off the turf, Caffeine Rush had to overcome the difficult No. 12 post with Leonel Reyes aboard. The 3-year-old filly jumped out of the gate and quickly took the lead, passing the furlong markers in :22.35 and :45.88, never giving anybody a chance to challenge. She opened up daylight on the turn, and in the stretch, just kept widening the lead. By the time she hit the wire, Caffeine Rush was 10 1/4 lengths in front and the teletimer read :58.16.

Caffeine Rush didn’t race at two, and her first victory in five starts this season was worth $14.60 to her backers, and $13,500 and a breeder’s award for Just For Fun Stable.

Alabama Slammer scored in a different fashion in his five-furlong race that also came off the grass, stalking the pace while off the rail with Edgard Zayas and proving best in the stretch to win by three-quarters in :59.77. The 2-year-old colt bred by Dr. Ross Russell earned $14,100 and increased Handsome Mike’s progeny earnings for the year to $1,171,907; he now has 37 winners.