Vekoma filly takes Prioress S. (G3) for first black type win

Praying put away Long Neck Paula with a furlong to go on her way to an emphatic victory in the Aug. 30 Prioress S. (G3) at Saratoga.

The 3-year-old Vekoma filly, who had placed second in a pair of stakes earlier in her career, is the 11^th stakes winner and fourth graded winner for the nation’s top-ranked Second-Crop sire.

Praying shipped from her Kentucky base for Saturday’s six-furlong test. She was away in third and dutifully waited for her cue while tracking the leaders. With three furlongs to run, she made a big move and along side Long Neck Paula at the top of the stretch. In mid-stretch, she bounded away to score by a widening 3 ½-lengths in 1:10.10 on a fast track.

“I had a race–she was actually in at Ellis at the end of July–our plan was to run there to get to this race, but they canceled the races because of the heat,” said trainer Robert Medina. “I didn’t want to just run her–I just figured we’d bring her up here and train her to this race. We schooled her here and she was absolutely perfect. She’s been perfect since we got here. I knew she was sitting on a good one.”

Medina added that Praying would likely point to the Raven Run S. (G2) at Keeneland Oct. 18.

Praying is now 2-4-0 in eight starts for owner Newtown Anner Stud Farm. The dark bay filly was bred in Kentucky by Jeff Kerber.