The Big Beast got his first stakes winner of 2021 on New Year's Day when Hear My Prayer took the $75,000 Abundantia S. at Gulfstream Park by 2 1/2-lengths over Victory Kingdom (AUS).

The newly-turned 4-year-old won last year's Melody of Colors S. over the same track and distance and is now 4-0-1 in eight starts and has earned $139.475. 

After breaking very sharply, Irad Ortiz, Jr. took his mount just off the pace. She tracked very fast fractions of :20.95 and :43.54 before launching a three-wide bid in mid-stretch. She rolled to the lead inside the final furlong to win going away in :55.27 on the firm turf.

“She broke good, put me right there,” Ortiz said. “She put me in a good position. I held her together and she relaxed and came back to me. She waited for the time to go, when I asked her turning for home, she responded.” 

Bred in Florida by Janet Erwin, Hear My Prayer is owned by Cara Oliver. The Big Beast finished 2020 as Florida's second-leading Second-Crop sire with nearly $1.4 million in progeny earnings. After breeding nearly 200 mares in the past two seasons, he is standing in 2021 for $4,000 live foal.