Handsome Mike filly’s maiden-breaker was a Real Doozie

Handsome Mike’s first winner of 2020 came in a $40,000 maiden claiming race at Tampa Bay Downs yesterday, an eight-length romp by the aptly-named Real Doozie under veteran Jose Ferrer. It raised her record to 1-2-1 in six starts.

The just-turned 3-year-old filly owned and bred by Ballybrit Stable fought for the early lead through a :22.41 first quarter, then pulled away en route to a :45.50 half, and kept widening all the way to the wire. Her final time was 1:11.01, she paid $6.60 and earned a check for $10,240.