Two winners for Handsome Mike; he moves up to Top 10

Handsome Mike picked up two more winners yesterday, Do What It Takes at Finger Lakes and Mike Mike at Mountaineer Casino and Resort, giving the stallion 21 for the year and moving him into 10th place among Florida’s active sires with 2021 progeny earnings of $745,829.

Michael Davila Jr. was aboard Do What It Takes, who raised her record to 6-6-8 in 34 starts with a strong finish after a five-horse cavalry charge to the first quarter. The 5-year-old mare bred by Joe and Helen Barbazon went three wide on the turn and won a three-way duel to the wire by two lengths. The $10,000 OBS April 2-year-old paid $7.90 and earned a check for $7,560, boosting her total to $78,968.

Mike Mike gained his first victory this year with Angel Diaz emulating the ride by Davila on Do What It Takes. The 5-year-old gelding bred by Judy Carlin was up close while five-wide down the backstretch and into the turn, and still had the most left in the battle down the lane, scoring by 1 1/4 lengths. The victory was worth $8,869 and he paid his backers a healthy $18.80.