Friday’s 60th running of the Grade 1, $400,000 Personal Ensign presented Hobeau Farm’s Miss Shop the opportunity to stretch out to a mile and a quarter while taking on some old rivals.

She took full advantage, as she carried jockey Javier Castellano from last to first and a three-length victory in the race for fillies and mares.

Although small in size, the 4-year-old Miss Shop, a daughter of Deputy Minister, went over the $1 million

“I didn’t know if she could go this far,” said Hall of Fame trainer H. Allen Jerkens. “She has never shown that she could go that far. Javier (Castellano) told me the last time, `Don’t worry about her. She can get the distance.’ She trained good and she ran good. Of course, he rode her great. It’s amazing how many times she has run as a four-year-old, in this day and age.”

This was her eighth start of 2007.

“Today was her best race,” Jerkens added. “She is good on firm turf or dirt. I was disappointed in a couple of her grass races. When she won the Sunshine Millions, it looked like she would be a good grass filly. You have to think about the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (Oct. 27; Monmouth Park). They say Monmouth Park doesn’t suit come-from-behind horses; I guarantee someone will come from behind some day.”

Miss Shop showed she could certainly be that one. Treated to a legitimate pace of :23.64, :47.70 and 1:11.81, established by Sugar Shake who was pressed by Indian Vale and Miss Shop’s stablemate, Teammate, Miss Shop was able to put in a sustained drive with a half-mile out to win in 2:03.48 on the fast track.

“I was looking to lay back today,” said Castellano, whose mount returned $11.40. “There was a lot of speed in the race. You had the speed of the outside horse (Indian Vale) and Teammate and Sugar Shake. All three horses made a good pace for me today. I was worried about the first quarter of a mile, but as soon as she relaxed for me, I was thinking that the race was over. She settled down beautifully. I wanted to be in that spot today. She did it so easy the first half a mile. She started picking up horses a little early today; right at the three-eighths and quarter-pole, she was right behind the speed horses. I was worried that we passed them a little early in the stretch. But I had so much horse and she won very good today.”

Trainer Todd Pletcher ran second and third, respectively with favored Unbridled Belle and Indian Vale.

“I thought both horses ran well,” he said. “Indian Vale was parked wide and lost ground around both turns, but that was just circumstantial.”

Sugar Shake was fourth, nosing out Teammate. Lila Page was never a factor.