SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) -- Love and Pride held off heavily favored Royal Delta by a half-length Sunday in the $600,000 Personal Ensign Invitational Handicap at Saratoga Race Course.

Ridden by John Velazquez and trained by Todd Pletcher, Love and Pride ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.22 and paid $22, $6.70 and $3.50 for her third victory in seven starts this season.

''She's a filly that's kind of hinted she had one of those in her, and she's been real tricky to ride,'' Pletcher said. ''She doesn't respond well to an aggressive ride. Johnny gets along with her really well, and she showed up with a big performance today.''

Royal Delta returned $2.70 and $2.10, and It's Tricky paid $2.10 to show.

Royal Delta, the 2011 champion 3-year-old filly and winner of her last two races, bore out and lost momentum leaving the stretch turn. It's Tricky, winner of three straight races and second in the wagering, stumbled badly at the break and failed to fully recover.

''I had her in a pretty decent spot and the other horse kept pushing me to the outside and she got a little more aggressive,'' Velazquez said. ''I just waited there until we got to the three-eighths pole, and when I saw (It's Tricky) get through on the inside, it was time to go and she responded right away.''

Love and Pride earned $360,000 for the Green Hills Farm.

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Love and Pride wins Personal Ensign