Saffron Moon sets record with first stakes triumph in Endeavour

Saffron Moon became a stakes winner on Saturday when she closed with a flourish to win the Grade 3, $175,000 Endeavour in stakes-record time at Tampa Bay Downs. She won by 2 1/4 lengths over See You Around.

It was another head back in third to Venencia.

The 1 1/16-mile turf race for fillies and mares was one of two graded stakes on the card.

Saffron Moon ($5.60) had just a few horses beat in the early stages, as Ocean Club moved to the lead heading into the first turn and put up fractions of 23.33 seconds for the opening quarter, 46.69 for the half-mile and 1:10.12 for six furlongs. Saffron Moon advanced on the final turn, was angled out into the stretch, and rolled home to cover the distance on firm ground in 1:39.92.

It was announced after the race that the final time was a stakes record and also was three-fifths of a second off the course record at Tampa.

Flavien Prat was aboard the winner for trainer Chad Brown.

Saffron Moon is a daughter of Malibu Moon who races for CHP Racing. She is now 4 for 10 for earnings of $339,625.

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