Sis's Sis stays perfect for the year

AUBURN, Wash. - Sis's Sis ran her 2010 record to 3 for 3 with a hard-fought victory Sunday in the $50,000 Irish Day Handicap at Emerald Downs.

Ridden by Juan Gutierrez for trainer Jim Penney, Sis's Sis ran one mile on a sloppy track in 1:36.60 to defeat Tapit So Lightly by a half-length. Zenovit was a neck back in third in the field of 10 3-year-old fillies. Wagering favorite Ghost Girl, making her local debut following a runner-up finish in a first-level allowance at Hollywood Park, faded to finish seventh after pressing the pace. Feeling Fancy, the 3-1 morning-line favorite, was scratched earlier in the day because of a foot abscess.

Sis's Six ($8.60) won for the fourth time in six career starts and earned $27,500 for owners Mike and Amy Feuerborn of Maple Valley, Wash., pushing her lifetime mark to $52,385.

Patiently ridden by Gutierrez, Sis's Sis tracked pacesetter Knight Raider through the first half-mile, moved to engage the leader nearing the turn, took a short lead at the quarter pole, and then held fast-closing Tapit So Lightly and Zenovit at bay in the final sixteenth.

Sis's Sis won a $17,500 claiming race at five furlongs by three-quarters of a length in her first start of the season April 9, and captured a first-level allowance at six furlongs by the same margin in her second outing May 15.

Next up for Emerald's 3-year-old filly division is the 1 1/16-mile Washington's Lottery Handicap on July 11, the final steppingstone to the $75,000 Washington Oaks on Aug. 14.