Indiana freshman sire Prayer for Relief's first starter became his first winner July 30 when his gelded son Savatiano won a $20,100 maiden claiming race at Gulfstream Park.
Bred in Florida under the name SCF, which is Belinda and Robert Kitos' Southern Cross Farm near Ocala, Fla., Savatiano is raced by David Romanik in partnership with trainer Ron Spatz. The gelding is the fourth foal out of the winning Imperialism mare Retsina, who was bred and raced by Southern Cross Farm. Savatiano is a half brother to turf stakes winner Raki (Two Step Salsa) and Assertiko (Bahamian Squall ), a multiple winner of nearly $100,000. Retsina has a yearling filly by Bahamian Squall named Metaxa Grande and foaled a colt by Neolithic this year.
Savatiano has been working steadily at Gulfstream since June 5. He entered his first start off a sharp three-furlong work in :36.93, the sixth-fastest time among 41 who worked that distance July 26. He went off as the 3-1 favorite in the five-furlong dirt race and rallied in the stretch to win by a length under Miguel Vasquez. The final time was 1:00.36.
Prayer for Relief is a grade 1-placed multiple grade 2 winner by Jump Start who earned more than $2.2 million racing for Zayat Stables. He entered stud in 2017 at Pleasant Acres Stallions near Ocala and stood there for one season before being relocated to R Star Stallions near Anderson, Ind., where he stands now. He stood for $3,000 this year.
