Naughty Me vaults past $100,000 for Handsome Mike

Handsome Mike’s first $100,000 earner is Naughty Me, the 3-year-old filly bred by one of Ocala’s top sales consigners – Beth Bayer – and co-owned by her with trainer Candy Courtemanche.

Stakes-placed Naughty Me made it two victories in a row since arriving at Presque Isle Downs via a game front-running performance in a $40,000 allowance race at a flat mile. Nursed along on the lead by Antonio Gallardo, the filly lost it briefly to Redeem My Heart at the top of the stretch, regained a slight edge midway down the lane, then held off Crafty’s Dream at the wire to score by a neck, clocked in 1:37.94.

The victory was worth $24,000 and raised Naughty Me’s earnings to $109,400 on an almost perfect in-the-money record of 4-1-4 in 10 starts. The result also completed a daily double bonanza for anyone lucky enough to catch Amazon Lizzie in the previous race. The DD for Amazon Lizzie ($71.20) and Naughty Me ($10.40) lit up the board at $1,268.60.