With her top two challengers scratched, Miss Josh made it all look so easy yesterday in the 40th running of the $100,000 Grade III Gallorette Handicap on turf at Pimlico Race Course.

Miss Josh, a 1-5 favorite, ran the 1 1/16-mile race for fillies anmares 3 years old and up just the way trainer Barclay Tagg had it planned.

The 5-year-old mare, who had Edgar Prado aboard, stayed ofthe pace in second most of the way before passing leader Capp The Power entering the stretch and going on to a 1 3/4 -length victory over Splendid Try, who also is trained by Tagg.

Tagg said, "I told him [Prado] to just lay off the pace aneverything would be fine at the end. She runs better from behind."

Capp The Power, who went off at 9-2, faded to fourth in thevent that ushered in the turf-racing season in Maryland.

The victory made Miss Josh an even stronger candidate for aEclipse Award as the top turf performer among fillies and mares in the country.