Miss Protege rallied from off the pace to win the $27,000 feature at Pimlico Race Course yesterday.

The 4-year-old filly defeated late-closing Sweet Alex by a half-length, with Double Artemis third.

Mario Pino rode the winner, who paid $10.20 to win after surviving an objection by Edgar Prado, who rode Sweet Alex.

The victory was the 13th at the meeting for trainer Larry Soroka and the fifth in the past eight starts for Miss Protege.