Mizz Money holds on late for victory in Pucker Up

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Mizz Money held off a late surge by Return to Grace in posting a 14-1 upset Saturday in the 52nd running of the Grade 3, $100,000 Pucker Up Stakes on the Arlington Million undercard.

Ridden by Robby Albarado, Mizz Money was prominent throughout the 1 1/8-mile turf race, taking over for Unbridled Courage before holding off Return to Grace by a nose. The winner is based at Churchill Downs with Bernie Flint, although the filly officially raced in the name of local trainer Patti Miller.

“I wouldn’t have sent her here except for my friend Patti,” said Flint, who was on hand. “She’s one of my oldest and dearest and certainly one of the most reliable.”

Mizz Money, bred and owned by Flint in partnership with Ron Hillerich, returned $30 after finishing in 1:49.80 over firm going. Prado's Sweet Ride was third, America Mon Amie was fourth, and Miss Chatelaine, the 11-10 favorite, was no factor when sixth in a field of 10 3-year-old fillies.

Two jockeys’ objections for alleged stretch interference – one against Return to Grace and one against America Mon Amie – were disallowed by the stewards. The $2 exacta (3-5) paid $267.20, the $1 trifecta (3-5-6) returned $559.60, and the 10-cent superfecta (3-5-6-8) was worth $526.22.

The Pucker Up was the first of five straight graded stakes on the Arlington Million card.

** Earlier Saturday, Recount ($3.40) was settled off the pace by Manny Esquivel before rallying for his fourth career stakes victory in the inaugural running of the $50,000 Bruce D. Memorial.

Trained by Jimmy DiVito for Doubledown Stables, Recount was hard-pressed to hold off a resurging Shrewd Move in prevailing by a half-length, finishing the one-turn mile in 1:37.70 over Polytrack.

The race was created to honor the memory of Bruce Duchossois, who died in July 2014.