Rosy start for Handsome Mike on Tampa turf

All it took for trainer Kenneth Westlye to change the fortunes of My Little Rosy – and the fortunes of her backers at the mutuel windows – was to change the surface she competes on. After five failed attempts at breaking her maiden on dirt tracks, the 3-year-old filly by Handsome Mike turned it all around yesterday on the lush turf course at Tampa Bay Downs. And the tote board exploded with her win price – $84.40.

Odilon Martinez, who had been aboard the filly in three of her five starts, shot My Little Rosy out of the gate and she took an easy lead in the 1 1/16th-mile test, posting quick early fractions of :22.74 and :47:67. She remained comfortably in front for the rest of the trip, finally holding on by one-half length in 1:44.80. Her first victory was worth $7,860 to owner Jose Ramirez plus a breeder’s award for Ponder Hill Inc. My Little Rosy became the first winner of 2019 for second-crop sire Handsome Mike.