Newtown Anner Stud Farm’s Praying a 21-1 upset winner of the GIII Prioress S. at Saratoga Aug. 30, backed up that breakout performance with a half-length victory over her elders in Saturday’s ‘Win and You’re In’ GII Thoroughbred Club of America S. at Keeneland. Favored Grade 1 winner Vahva was second,Zeitlos was third.
“It’s surreal,” winning trainer Robbie Medina said. “There’s nothing like winning a big stakes at Keeneland. It’s great.”
Praying was bred by Jeff Kerber and was foaled and raised at the historic Hidden Brook farm property in Paris, Kentucky.
Praying raced in an outside fifth beneath John Velazquez and made a three-wide bid on the far turn. The 9-1 chance kept on coming in the stretch and outboxed the classy GISW Vahva to punch her ticket to the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Del Mar.
“I have to give it to Robbie (Medina),” Velazquez said. “This filly has been a lot of work to get her to where she is right now. She’s a very nervous and very powerful girl, and we try to keep those nerves calmed down. He’s done that with her. She’s been a challenge to get her to where we are today.”
Medina added, “She’s always had the ability, but she was getting in her own way. I think she’ll handle it (the trip to California). We shipped her from here to Saratoga and she was fine. I shipped her in here last Saturday and she’s been fine. She kind of got on her toes a little bit in the paddock, but I kind of expected that. As long as she doesn’t get hot, I think she’ll handle what’s thrown at her now.”
Praying, second in Keeneland’s Myrtlewood S. last fall, raced two other times this season prior to her aforementioned win in the Prioress. She kicked off her sophomore season with a second-place finish in the Southern Hospitality Overnight S. at Oaklawn Mar. 30, then was well-beaten seventh in an optional claimer at Churchill Downs May 24.
