'Very Powerful Girl': Praying Shakes Off Vahva In Thoroughbred Club Of America Stakes
There was an guaranteed spot in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) on the line in Saturday's $400,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (G2) at Keeneland and touchy filly Praying snatched it up at 9-1 odds after a battling Grade 1 winner and favorite Vahva stride for stride in the final furlong.
The Vekoma filly asserted herself for John Velazquez as the finish line neared and sailed across a three-quarter length winner.
Praying covered the six furlongs for fillies and mares in 1:10.49 and returned $21.74 for the victory, her third from nine career starts and second in a graded stakes following her last-out triumph in the Prioress (G2) Aug. 30 at Saratoga.
Vahva held for second, and Zeitlos was third as she attempted a repeat win in the race.
The Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes is a ‘Win and You're In’ qualifier for the $1-million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (lG1) going a furlong farther than the TCA Stakes, and Praying earned an automatic fees-paid berth into the Nov. 1 test at Del Mar with her TCA victory
As Long Neck Paula spurted out to lead early, Velazquez had Praying ideally rating in fourth on the far outside in the field of seven fillies and mares while Vahva pressed the leader from second. Long Neck Paula continued her bold attempt to lead all the way and entering the stretch with a clear advantage looked en route to an upset, but Vahva was winding up her powerful rally and Praying was ready to pounce.
Those those two entered the stretch with a duel already in progress.
As Long Neck Paula began to tired and fade along the rail in the final furlong, Praying thrust her head in front, but Vahva would not yield and courageously fought on in the final sixteenth. Praying was ultimately was too strong.
“I have to give it to (trainer) Robbie (Medina); this filly has been a lot of work to get her to where she is right now," Velazquez said of Praying. "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. I tried to keep it nice and quiet in the post parade. By the time we got to the gate, right before the gate, she finally calmed down and she walked into the gate. She broke really good. All I wanted to do was sit down with her and not take too much hold of her and she got it done.”
Ortiz said he had a beautiful trip aboard Vahva, who fought all the way to the finish.
"I broke good," he said. "She felt good and was in a good position. She held it for a while, but the winner kept coming."
Owned by Newtown Anner Stud, Praying was bred in Kentucky by Jeff Kerber from the Bernardini mare Pray for Leslie. She was $410,000 purchase at the 2024 OBS Spring Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, where she was bought by Stone Bridge Farm from the Mayberry Farm consignment.
The Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes has been captured by Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winners Judy the Beauty, Groupie Doll, Dubai Majesty, and Informed Decision.
This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Oct 4, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.