GEORGETOWN, KY. – May 18, 2025 – Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement facility in Georgetown, Ky., is pleased to announce that with her win in Race 2, the Old Friends Purse, at Pimlico on Saturday, May 18, 2024, 43.8-to-1 long shot, The Amazing Mizzen, earned “retirement for life” at Old Friends should she choose it when she is pensioned.

The 4-year old gray daughter of Mizzen Mast–Zulia, by Henny Hughes, The Amazing Mizzen, split horses coming around the final turn, and then battled Betula (GB) down the stretch to score the win by a neck and win the third running of the “Old Friends Purse” at Pimlico; a race that benefits Old Friends and its “Old Friends for Life” retirement program.

The Amazing Mizzen was trained by Susan Cooney for owner Twin Oaks Bloodstock LLC, and ridden by jockey J.G. Torrealba.

“Today has been a special day for Old Friends in Maryland on Preakness Day,” said John Nicholson, President and CEO of Old Friends, who handed out the winner’s trophy. “We are so grateful to Pimlico for making the Old Friends Purse possible and for giving Thoroughbred Aftercare such a large platform. Today’s race was very exciting! We congratulate the connections of The Amazing Mizzen on her impressive upset victory. A place awaits her at Old Friends when the time comes.”

Should she be retired to Old Friends someday, The Amazing Mizzen will join three other “Old Friends For Life” retirees already living on the farm – Next Shares, Kalamos, and Get Western – who used their automatic entry for lifetime retirement at Old Friends by winning their respective Old Friends races. Two other winners of the Old Friends Purse at Pimlico, Desvio, and Be Better, are still racing.

Race Recap

This year’s Old Friends’ Purse at Pimlico was a one-mile race on the turf for fillies and mares three years old and upward which have never won a race other than maiden, claiming, waiver claiming, starter, or Maryland Sired of Maryland Bred Races, or which have never won two races.

The purse for the race was $55,200 which included a $1,200 starter bonus, broken down as follows: 1st: $32,400; 2nd: $10,800; 3rd: $5,400; 4th: $2,700; 5th: $1,620; 6th: $1,080; 7th: $300; 8th $399; 9th: $300.

While it rained a lot the previous day in Baltimore, Saturday was a cloudy day, and the track was rated good.

The favorite for the Old Friends Purse was Drop the Hammer at 1.30-to-1 odds with Irad Ortiz, Jr. riding. Second favorite was Betula at 3.80-1 odds with John Velazquez riding; the third favorite, Swan House at 4.70-to-1 odds with Luis Saez riding; and the fourth favorite was Miss Ellary at 4.90-to-1 odds with Paco Lopez riding. Meanwhile, The Amazing Mizzen went off as the next to last long shot at 43.80-to-1 odds with J.G. Torrealba riding.

As they were loaded into the gate, The Amazing Mizzen became a little restless when the horse inside of him, Be Inspired, acted up a little. However, Torrealba calmed him down, and soon the gates sprang open.

The Amazing Mizzen broke straight out of the gate, and settled into third along the rail as the field passed the finish line the first time. Around the first turn and then entering the backstretch, she was fourth along the rail, while Miss Ellary led the field, with Betula (GB) in second, and Fivecommatwo on her outside now in third.

Going down the back stretch, and entering the final turn, The Amazing Mizzen and Fivecommatwo swapped third and fourth place most of the way, as they both stalked the leaders – Miss Ellary and Betula (GB).

Going around the final turn, Miss Ellary was still in the lead on the inside, with Betula (GB) next to her in second, Fivecommatwo next to her in third, and The Amazing Mizzen on the inside in fourth and looking for a way to get clear of the traffic all around her.

Coming out of the final turn, Miss Ellary still led the field on the rail, with Betula (GB) still right behind her. However, as the lead horses ran a little wide around the turn heading into the stretch, an opening appeared for The Amazing Mizzen and Torrealba didn’t hesitate as he guided her off the rail and between Betula (GB) and Fivecommatwo. With that move complete, The Amazing Mizzen took over third and had a clear track ahead of her for the stretch run.

As the field came down the stretch, Miss Ellary tried to hold on to the lead but was tiring, so Betula (GB) took control, with The Amazing Mizzen now in second and coming on strong.

Soon, the crowd roared its approval for the exciting stretch duel that commenced, as Betula (GB) and The Amazing Mizzen hooked up and battled neck-and-neck toward the finish line. Behind them, Swan House was coming on fast and moved into third while Miss Ellary fell back to fourth.

As they neared the finish, The Amazing Mizzen took a small lead and as they crossed wire the gray filly won by a neck over Betula (GB). Swan House finished third, three lengths ahead of Miss Ellary.

The Amazing Mizzen finished the one-mile race in 1:43.42, and paid $89.60, $29.20, and $14.00 for the win, while Betula paid (GB) $6.20, and $4.00 for second, and Swan House paid $4.60 for third. The $1.00 daily double paid $123.00, while the $1.00 exacta paid $333.10. In addition, the $1.00 Trifecta paid $1,853.10, and the $1.00 Superfecta paid $5,827.40.

Rounding out the field was Fivecommatwo in fifth, followed by Drop the Hammer, Kobe’s Smile, Be Inspired, Majesty’s Freedom, and Paradise Win.