Mizz Money holds in Pucker Up

Mizz Money tracked in second to the far turn and narrowly withstood the late charge of Return to Grace in Saturday’s $100,000 Pucker Up (G3) at Arlington, registering her first graded stakes win with the nose decision. The three-year-old Mizzen Mast filly also provided Patti Miller with her initial graded stakes tally as a conditioner.

Winner of the Allen LaCombe Memorial at Fair Grounds in early March and second in the June 21 Northbound Pride Oaks at Canterbury two back, Mizz Money was exiting an unplaced finish in the off-the-turf Ta Wee at Indiana Grand on July 17. Her form is decidedly better on the grass, recording four wins and two seconds from seven turf starts, and the gray lass has now bankrolled $172,670 from a 11-4-2-1 career record.

Robby Albarado settled his mount nicely behind moderate opening splits in :24.37 and:49.56, and Mizz Money moved readily to the lead rounding the far turn, completing six furlongs in 1:14.94 and a 1:38.22 on a short advantage. The field bunched up behind her in the stretch, with Prado’s Sweet Ride looming a serious threat before Return to Grace came rallying boldly into contention late, but the wire came in time for Mizz Money, who finished 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.80 on the firm turf.

“At the wire it was pretty close but I had the advantage inside,” Albarado said. “She was game today.”

Return to Grace, who wound up a half-length better than Prado’s Sweet Ride in third, survived an objection from the rider of fourth-placer America Mon Marie, who claimed interference when being bumped entering the stretch.

Walking the Kitten wound up fifth and was followed by the one-paced Miss Chatelaine, the even-money favorite, Urtheoneeyelove, Giant Deduction, pacesetter Unbridled Courage and Ahh Chocolate. Counterfactual was scratched.

Previously trained by Bernie Flint, who owns and bred the winner in Kentucky with Ron Hillerich, Mizz Money is out of the Grand Slam mare Abbeyville Miss and will continue to be tested for class moving forward.

Mizz Money photo courtesy of Four Footed Photos