Lane's End's freshman sire Unified sired his first winner May 28 when his daughter Behave Virginia won her debut at Churchill Downs gate-to-wire by 5 3/4 lengths.
Bred in Kentucky by Khalid Mishref Alkahtani, Behave Virginia is the fourth named foal and third winner out of the winning Mineshaft daughter She's Behaving. Alkahtani bought the mare at the 2018 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale carrying Behave Virginia for $15,000 from Vinery Sales. The mare was bought on Alkahtani's behalf by agent Bruno DeBerdt. Alkahtani bred the mare back to Tamarkuz and sold her the following year at Keeneland in November through Frankfort Park Farm for $25,000 to Arif Kurtel.
Behave Virginia also had been offered as a weanling at the 2019 Keeneland November sale and she must have impressed buyers, who were willing to pay a bit for the mare. The filly continued to impress as a yearling, selling for $115,000 to trainer Kenny McPeek at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Behave Virginia is now raced by the Mackin family's Lucky Seven Stable.
Breaking from post 1, Behave Virginia grabbed a slim lead early in the 5 1/2-furlong race over favorite Trade Secret who kept the pressure on through the turn. Behave Virginia started widening her lead at the top of the lane and drew away with ease. She stopped the timer in 1:04.15.
Unified is a grade 1-placed, grade 2 winner by Candy Ride , who also stands at Lane's End. He broke his maiden at first asking at 3 and became a stakes winner in his second start, when he captured the Bay Shore Stakes (G3). Unified went on to further his graded stakes credentials by winning the Peter Pan Stakes (G2). At 4 he started the season by winning the Gulfstream Park Sprint Stakes (G3) and was next second in the Carter Handicap (G1). Unified was retired with a 4-1-0 record from seven starts and banked $476,880.
At this year's 2-year-olds in training sales, Unified's progeny were well received with 25 of 30 sold for an average of $101,160. His top seller, Roger McQueen, sold for $530,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale to Carolyn Wilson out of the Wavertree Stables consignment. Roger McQueen finished third in his debut at Churchill Downs May 22.
Unified entered stud at Lane's End for $10,000 and stands for the same price this year.
