Mizz Money by a head in Gallorette Handicap

BALTIMORE – Bernie Flint bred and owns Mizz Money in partnership, and he trains her, so he’s invested a lot of time and money. When she tenaciously held off all rivals through the lane to win the Grade 3, $150,000 Gallorette Handicap at Pimlico on Saturday, Flint found that he had invested quite a bit of emotion, too.

“Everybody came at her. I was holding my breath,” a relieved Flint said in the winner’s circle after Mizz Money won a three-way photo finish over Vielsalm and Heath in the 1 1/16-mile grass race for older females. “My heart was pounding all the way through the stretch, and everybody took their shots at her.

“We bred this mare,” he said of the 4-year-old filly. “Third generation of the family. It’s like cheering on your kid.”

Mizz Money ($11.80) tracked the early pace set by Josdesanimaux, took over midway through the lane and had several rivals make bids, but she fought on bravely under jockey Javier Castellano to prevail by a head over 76-1 shot Vielsalm, who was a nose in front of Heath.

“When the other horses came to her, she took off again,” Castellano said.

Tiger Ride, the 9-5 favorite, finished eighth in the 11-horse field after encountering traffic trouble at several points during the race, but she never fired once clear in the lane.

Mizz Money completed 1 1/16 miles on a course rated “good” in 1:45.93.

The win was the sixth in 19 starts for Mizz Money, who is by Mizzen Mast and out of the Grand Slam mare Abbeyville Miss. She most recently had captured the New Orleans Ladies, a $50,000 stakes race at Fair Grounds on March 26. That was her fifth start of the meet at Fair Grounds, after which she was freshened for the Gallorette. The $90,000 winner’s share Saturday brought her career earnings to $338,248.

Flint owns Mizz Money in a partnership that includes Ron Hillerich.