OLDSMAR - Winning the Florida Oaks was a game of follow the leader for Ender's Sister and jockey Pat Day on Sunday.
Day used that strategy perfectly, riding Ender's Sister to a three-quarters-length victory at Tampa Bay Downs. The $150,000 race for 3-year-old fillies was the first of three stakes races on Festival Day. The $100,000 Hillsborough Stakes and $250,000 Tampa Bay Derby, two Grade III events, also were part of the 13-race card.
Ender's Sister, the 6-5 favorite out of Green Lantern Stables, won her fourth consecutive race dating to November, when she broke her maiden at Aqueduct. There are three stakes victories in the streak, including the Suncoast Stakes in her last outing Feb. 21.
"She went about her task in a very professional fashion," said Day, who flew in from Gulfstream to take the mount.
The Kentucky-bred by A.P. Indy and Gold Rush Queen spotted her eight rivals as much as 6 pounds, but had plenty left at the end. Ender's Sister returned $4.60, $2.40 and $2.40. Menifeeque paid $3.20 and $2.60 for second and America America returned $3.80 for show.
By earning $90,000, Ender's Sister increased her career winnings to $224,900 in seven starts.
"She broke alertly on the rail and was just following the 9 (Menifeeque) and the 7 (Fall Fashion) down the back side and around the turn," Day said. "When I called on her off the turn, she responded beautifully. The 9 horse kind of jumped away from us, but she got by her in the middle of the track. I think it really helped the filly already had an out over the racetrack. It's a bit of a funny track; sometimes the horse needs to get the feel of it."
The Rusty Arnold-trained filly is 3-0 at the 1 1/16-mile distance. Ender's Sister is expected to go to Kentucky for her next test.
"Mr. Arnold will probably take her to Keeneland," assistant trainer Patricia Roy said. "He's got a lot of confidence in the filly and that's why we came back today. Obviously, she was well. She ran a great race."
Ender's Sister's finished in 1 minute, 45.6 seconds. She ran a 1:47.1 in the Suncoast Stakes. For Day, it was his second Florida Oaks victory. In 1998, he rode Pantufla to a win over Puddlejump and Try N Sue.
