Virginia-bred Holiday Winners

The Ned Evans-bred Union Prayer won a mile and 1/16 allowance at Gulfstream on December 23, finishing strong to win by a clear length. The 3-year-old daughter of Dixie Union out of the Pleasant Tap mare Pleasant Lyrics is owned by Los Samanes LLC and trained by Gustavo Delgado. This was her second lifetime win out of six starts.

Union Prayer won an allowance at Gulfstream on December 23. Photo courtesy Leslie Martin

Union Prayer won an allowance at Gulfstream on December 23. Photo courtesy Leslie Martin

Then, two days later, the Lazy Lane-bred Centrique put in a 1 1/4-length victory in a 7-furlong starter allowance at the same venue.

Centrique has been a reliable performer for current connections Miller Racing. The Marty Wolfson trainee was a $60,000 purchase at Keeneland September in 2010.

Centrique broke her maiden at Gulfstream in in March of her 3-year-old year. She bounced around in allowance and claiming company, stringing together three victories in a row at Belmont in the fall of 2012, before giving graded stakes company a try in 2013. She finished fourth in the Grade II Ruffian and seventh in the Grade I Princess Rooney. She placed twice in stakes races at Calder in 2013. Third in the Grade II Barbara Fritchie Handicap this year, Centrique was lodging her second victory for 2014 here. She was fifth in the Grade III Sugar Swirl Stakes earlier this month.

Lazy Lane-bred Centrique won a starter on Boxing Day. Photo courtesy Coglianese.

Lazy Lane-bred Centrique won a starter on Boxing Day. Photo courtesy Coglianese.