Saez expanded the lead to nearly four lengths and used hand encouragement to win by a half-length in 1:43.10, the outcome never really questioned. Vigilantes Way finished second with Great Island keeping third. Flightly Lady who tried to challenge Mean Mary initially was fourth.

“It was great. She broke right there on her own,” observed Saez. “She was doing it pretty easy, and I knew I had a lot of horse. At the top of the stretch, I just let her run. She did it pretty easy. I didn’t have to use my stick or nothing.”

Mean Mary is a five-year-old daughter of Scat Daddy out of the Dynaformer mare Karlovy Vary, winner of the 2012 Grade 1 Ashland. She is a homebred for owner Alex Campbell, Jr. The Gallorette was first start in 2021 for Mean Mary and the fourth graded stakes. She’s won six of 10 in her career, and the winner’s share pushed her past $600,000 in earnings.

Trainer Graham Motion picks up the hardware for Campbell to set next to his other Gallorette trophy, which was delivered by Motion with Ultra Brat (2018). Motion also won the Gallorette with Film Maker in in 2005. Saez had previously won the Gallorette in 2014 with Somali Lemonade.

“Could not have asked for a better comeback. I was a little nervous; first time she’s run without Lasix,” said Motion about the Maryland rule prohibiting Lasix within 48 hours of post time of graded stakes races. “That’s all I said to Luis is to make sure she was settled. She tends to be pretty wound up. Perfect comeback.”

The Gallorette is named for the Maryland-bred filly that won the Black-Eyed Susan, ran second in the Wood Memorial against males and was voted Champion female horse in 1946. Gallorette faced males 51 times in her career, including facing the great Stymie 19 times, finishing ahead of him in nine of those.