Little Mike wires Flying Pidgeon Stakes

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. ─ Little Mike made a triumphant return to the races Saturday at Gulfstream Park, leading throughout to register a 2 3/4-length victory over Hakama in the $75,000 Flying Pidgeon Stakes.

Making his first start since the Hong Kong Cup five months earlier and his first under the care of his owner and breeder, Carlo Vaccarezza, Little Mike broke like a rocket and quickly opened a clear lead seemingly before most of his eight rivals had even left the starting gate. With jockey Elvis Trujillo aboard for the first time, Little Mike set a swift pace, posting splits of 23.57 seconds and 46.77 for the opening half-mile. He turned back a challenge from Padilla leaving the backstretch and around the second turn, settled into the stretch with a commanding advantage, then maintained a safe advantage to the end.

Hakama circled rivals five wide while rallying into the stretch and eventually wore down Padilla by a half-length to finish second. Dashing David, Grand Tito, Rerun, Argentine Tango, Mellow Fellow, and Balino rounded out the order of finish.

The win was the 14th in 29 career starts for Little Mike, a 7-year-old son of Spanish Steps, with the $45,000 winner’s share of the purse raising his lifetime earnings to more than $3.5 million. He paid $3.60.

“One of his assets is his ability to break well, just like he did today,” said Vaccarezza. “I knew there was a lot of speed in the race, but I told Elvis if he got to the lead, just let him go. I was a little more nervous than usual today. My kids are here and my wife, all my friends. I didn’t want to look like a fool. It wasn’t a tremendous field, but there were some nice horses in there, and when you run in a race like this, you have to be scared of the other nine horses.”

Vaccarezza said if all goes well, the plan is for Little Mike to make his next start in the Grade 1 Manhattan at Belmont Park on June 7.