J. Paul Reddam's Handsome Mike staged a Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II) shocker at Parx Racing Sept. 22, taking the $1 million event at odds of 19-1.
Dead-heat Travers Stakes (gr. I) winner Golden Ticket was third, while Travers co-winner Alpha finished sixth as the 3-5 favorite. Handsome Mike, the longest shot in a field of seven sophomores, went 1 1/8 miles in a slow 1:51.63, crossing the wire two lengths clear of West Virginia Derby (gr. II) winner Macho Macho.
Handsome Mike carried a feathery 114 pounds with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, 10 fewer than the 124 shouldered by both Golden Ticket and Alpha.
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