By Steve Sherack
Newtown Anner Stud Farm's Praying (f, 3, Vekoma–Pray for Leslie, by Bernardini), 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 Vahva (Gun Runner) was second. Zeitlos (Curlin) was third.
“It's surreal,” winning trainer Robbie Medina said. “There's nothing like winning a big stakes at Keeneland. It's great.”
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.
Pedigree Notes:
Praying, a $130,000 KEESEP yearling turned $410,000 OBSAPR breezer, is one of seven graded winners for second-crop sire Vekoma. She was purchased privately by the Regan family's operation following a runaway maiden win at third asking at Indiana last September.
Praying's two-time winning dam Pray for Leslie, purchased for $130,000 by McMahon & Hill Bloodstock, agent, at the 2018 KEENOV sale, has also produced GISP Alys Beach (Omaha Beach); this summer's GIII Adirondack S. third Spa Prospector (Authentic) ($450,000 KEESEP yearling); and a Nyquist filly of this year. She was bred back to Into Mischief.
Praying is bred on the same Vekoma x Bernardini cross as sidelined Lafayette S. winner and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Colloquial. This is the extended female family of GI King's Bishop S. winner and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile third-place finisher Capo Bastone (Street Boss).
#6 PRAYING ($21.74) got the best of Vahva late to win the $400,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (G2) at @keenelandracing. The daughter of Vekoma (@spendthriftfarm) earned a spot in the @BreedersCup F&M Sprint (G1). @ljlmvel was up for Robert Medina. pic.twitter.com/SjvOLa6S7r
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 4, 2025
Saturday, Keeneland
THOROUGHBRED CLUB OF AMERICA S.-GII, $398,750, Keeneland, 10-4, 3yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:10.49, ft.
1–PRAYING, 120, f, 3, by Vekoma
1st Dam: Pray for Leslie, by Bernardini
2nd Dam: C J's Leelee, by Mizzen Mast
3rd Dam: Fight to Love, by Fit to Fight
($130,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $410,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR). O-Newtown Anner Stud Farm; B-Jeff Kerber (KY); T-Robert Medina; J-John R. Velazquez. $241,800. Lifetime Record: 9-3-4-0, $466,040. *1/2 to Alys Beach (Omaha Beach), GISP, $143,500. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Vahva, 122, m, 5, Gun Runner–Holiday Soiree, by Harlan's Holiday. ($280,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Belladonna Racing LLC, Hudson, Lynne, Hudson, Jr., Edward J., West Point Thoroughbreds, Twin Brook Stables, Farish, W.S., LBD Stable LLC, Runnels Racing and Manganaro Bloodstock; B-Woodford Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux. $78,000.
3–Zeitlos, 120, m, 5, Curlin–Thyme For Roses (Aus), by Redoute's Choice (Aus). ($350,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Stonestreet Stables LLC and Leidel, Peter; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $39,000.
Margins: HF, 1 3/4, NO. Odds: 9.87, 1.41, 1.69.
Also Ran: Vodka With a Twist, Long Neck Paula, Taxed, Halina's Forte.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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