From HarnessLink (Ray Cotolo, published 6 October 2025)
Handsome Stranger (Andy McCarthy) capitalized from a tumultuous battle between leaders Prince Hal Hanover (Todd McCarthy) and Madden Oaks (Braxten Boyd) to storm over the top and nail a 1:48.1 victory as the longest shot on the board in the first division of the Tattersalls.
Prince Hal Hanover, the 2-5 favorite, pushed out of post 8 to grab the lead from Papis Pistol (Jason Bartlett) after a :26 first quarter and sailed up the backstretch to clock a :52.4 half. Boyd angled Madden Oaks outside from sixth and charged uncovered up the rim and reached Prince Hal Hanover’s neck moving around the last turn. The rivals sped in tandem by three-quarters in 1:19.4 but they both rounded the bottom corner on fumes. Madden Oaks forged forward to a narrow lead but Prince Hal Hanover fought back at the inside as the backfield loomed late. Fusion (Dexter Dunn) burst through a seam at the inside while Handsome Stranger charged widest of all from last, and Handsome Stranger managed to snatch the win from Fusion by a neck at odds of 86-1. Prince Hal Hanover held his ground for third and Madden Oaks settled for fourth.
“He’s actually been finishing really good every start, coming home in :26, :25 in tough sire stakes competition,” trainer Per Engblom said after the race. “And today they went fast enough up front, so it was good enough for us. Obviously he proved today that he belongs now and he’s been getting stronger as the year’s gone.”
A gelding by Tall Dark Stranger-Silk Beach, Handsome Stranger won his third race from 18 starts this season and his fourth race from 28 starts in his career, earning $217,892. He competes for owners Morrison Racing Stables, Brian Gordon and Stephen Gordon. He paid $174.16 to win.
