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. The final time for six furlongs was 1:10.49.“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 (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.”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.Lifetime Record: 9-3-4-0.Sales history: $130,000 yrl '23 KEESEP; $410,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR.O-Newtown Anner Stud FarmB-Jeff Kerber (KY)T-Robert Medina#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, 2025The post Vekoma’s Praying Answers the Call in the TCA appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.