Silver Reunion fires off long layoff to take Endeavor

OLDSMAR, Fla.- Taking the lead right from the start, Silver Reunion led every step under good handling by Ramon Dominguez to capture the 12th running of the Grade 3, $125,000 Endeavour Stakes on Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs.

Making her first start since August, Spring Party moved clear soon after the start, followed closely by Spring Party, C.S. Silk, and Kiss MIne.

Silver Reunion ($6), the favorite in a field of 10 fillies and mares, set moderate fractions of 48.64 seconds and 1:13.90 under confident rating by Dominguez. Turning for home, she responded when called upon and opened a 2 ½-length lead with a furlong remaining.

With Dominguez applying pressure, the 5-year-old Silver Reunion had enough left to hit the wire with a half-length to spare over C. S Silk. C.S. Silk, who rallied gamely down the middle of the course, finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of Denomination with You Go West Girl a late closing fourth.

"She is still learning the game and has a lot of speed so when we hit the front so early I had to settle her down,” Dominguez said. “She had been off so long and was very sharp and eager to go. When we got into the stretch she was getting a bit tired and I had to keep after her because I knew there would be challenges coming. But she did fine.”

Silver Reunion, trained by Graham Motion, covered 1 1/16 miles over a turf course listed as good in 1:43.98 to notch her fifth career win from 10 starts and her first graded stakes.