Handsome Mike stays put for San Diego Handicap
DEL MAR, Calif. – Handsome Mike has shown up in unexpected places in the last week.
He was entered, and later announced as withdrawn, from the Paddock Sale at Del Mar last Sunday, only to appear briefly in the sale ring during the event.
“That was an error,” trainer Doug O’Neill said.
Earlier that day, owner Paul Reddam, O’Neill and two of his advisers – brother Dennis and bloodstock agent Jamie McCalmont – decided to keep Handsome Mike and point for Saturday’s $200,000 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar.
If Handsome Mike shows up in the San Diego, he might be in the winner’s circle.
Handsome Mike is best known for winning the Pennsylvania Derby in September 2012. In his career, Handsome Mike has won 3 of 28 starts and earned $971,413. A win or second in the San Diego would put him over $1 million in career earnings.
In his last start, Handsome Mike was second to San Diego runner Fed Biz in the minor American Flag Stakes at Los Alamitos on July 4.
“He’s getting better,” O’Neill said. “Whether it’s good enough, we’ll see. The last three races or so, he’s rounding into form.”
O’Neill said Handsome Mike was scheduled to sell last weekend until the afternoon of the sale.
“Everyone had an opinion, and we thought of seeing what the market would give,” O’Neill said. “We decided, ‘Let’s try to win the San Diego.’ There was a lot of back and forth. We decided he’s not an easy horse to replace.”
In the hour before the sale, stable staff thought Handsome Mike was still in the sale and took him to the auction, O’Neill said.
The Grade 2 San Diego Handicap is run over 1 1/16 miles and has a projected field of 10. Aside from Handsome Mike, the probable starters are Dance With Fate, Fed Biz, Footbridge, Frac Daddy, Honduran, Imperative, Soi Phet, Summer Hit, and You Know I Know.