Here comes $3 million for Handsome Mike

Handsome Mike is just $6,289 away from reaching the $3 million mark in career progeny earnings after the victory of his leading money-winner, Here Comes Jackie, in a $27,250 allowance optional claiming race at one mile on the grass at Tampa Bay Downs.

The 5-year-old mare bred by Joe and Helen Barbazon was off sixth in a seven-horse field under veteran Ronnie Allen Jr., cruising along in the two path. She moved three-wide on the turn, then ran down the leaders late to score by a length, clocked in 1:35.26 and raising her record to 5-7-2 in 35 starts. The $16,475 check boosted her career total to $234,685.

Here Comes Jackie is the ninth winner of 2021 for Handsome Mike, whose earnings jumped to $2,993,711.