Lomaki Takes Endeavour

The Grade III Endeavour Stakes, a 1 1/16 miles turf test for fillies and mares four years old and upward, was won today by Lomaki, a six-year-old AP. Indy mare owned by Cheifswood Stable, trained by Eric Coatrieux and ridden to victory by Christopher DeCarlo.

Lomaki settled just off the pace throughout the early furlongs of the Grade III Endeavour Stakes, moving to the lead at the sixteenth pole to win by two lengths. Cure for Sale (ARG) was second and Coulee was third.

Eric Coatrieux, trainer of Lomaki, said of the mare’s victory, “After that race (The $100,000 Marshua’s River S.) I thought we had a good, good shot to get this race. It worked out well. I’m not sure after this race what will happen. We thought about retiring her. She’s older now. I think it may be over after this – unless we come back for the next one (the Grade III Hillsborough S. on March 13 at Tampa Bay Downs.)  I was really pleased with the race.” When asked if it was emotional that this may be the mare’s last race, Eric Coatrieux replied,  “It is, a little bit.”

"This is a very brave mare," said winning rider Chris DeCarlo, "and she just loved this surface. We got set up behind the lead group and she was relaxed and comfortable. I sent her up on the outside getting near the stretch and she got brushed by a runner inside us but that didn't bother her and she put in nice run in mid-stretch and that was enough. The first time I rode her it was on the dirt and she didn't like that at all and in her last there was a big field and traffic and she  put in a big run in that one too. But today she just loved the ground and the race set up really well for us."