Smart Union carried a good deal of breeding eras past at Keeneland. She also brought it first to the wire.

The 2yo 1/2 sister to MGSW Mission of Joy graduated in Sunday's 4th race, gaining the lead inside the 1/16th pole and edging clear of Just Ruthless by a length. Smart Union (Union Rags) is the 4th winner out of Sam-Son Farm-bred Smart Mission (Smart Strike), whose Mission of Joy is a dual Gr3 winner and multiple Gr1-placed.

Graham Motion stretched out Smart Union to Sunday's mile and a sixteenth route off a single sprint prep at Colonial Downs, where she debuted 5th. Relishing the added distance, she was asked by John Velazquez to commence her rally entering the far turn and sustained it to deep stretch.

Jonathan P Evans, owner/breeder of Smart Union, races in the familiar silks of his late uncle, Ned Evans, who campaigned a myriad of top-class horses bred at his Spring Hill Farm in Virginia.

Stakes winner Giant Mover (Giant's Causeway), acquired by Dell Ridge Farm out of Keeneland's 2011 Evans Dispersal, produced MGSW filly Family Tree (Smart Strike), bred in partnership with Sam-Son. She subsequently produced Gr2 winner and Kentucky Oaks 2nd Liora (Candy Ride).

Keeneland photo.