Trainer Michael Moore had plenty to ponder ahead of Takethemoneyhoney’s stakes debut in Sunday’s $100,000 Serena’s Song Stakes at Monmouth Park: her first try around two turns, first stakes appearance, and a Grade 1 winner in the compact four-horse field. Then came a tense finish, with just a nose and a neck separating the top three.

In the end, the 4-year-old Maryland-bred filly dug in to repel Catherine Wheel at the wire, earning a free entry into the Grade 3, $500,000 Molly Pitcher Stakes on Monmouth’s July 19 Haskell card.

“Obviously going two turns for the first time and facing stakes company for the first time were concerns,” Moore said. “But this was kind of the next step for her… This was definitely worth trying.”

Power Squeeze, the 1-2 favorite and winner of the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes last year, loomed wide under Javier Castellano but faded late to finish third — her fifth straight loss.

Takethemoneyhoney, now 4-for-5 lifetime for owners Kasey K, Final Turn, and Michael R Day, set the pace through fractions of :24.09, :48.76, and 1:13.12 before stopping the clock at 1:42.19 for the mile and 70 yards.

A homebred for her owners, Takethemoneyhoney was bred in Maryland. She is by Golden Lad out of the talented Great Notion mare Goodonehoney.

“I was a little worried about her going two turns and carrying her speed,” said jockey Eliseo Ruiz, who earned his first Monmouth stakes win. “She had just enough left. She’s a really good filly.”

Added Moore: “She has it all.”