Hear My Prayer backstory transcends form

ARCADIA, Calif. – A reasonable horseplayer might conclude that Hear My Prayer is the most likely winner of the $75,000 Wishing Well Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita, and wager accordingly.

But every so often, a race transcends handicapping analysis. Sometimes, a backstory cuts to the heart, such as Hear My Prayer in the Wishing Well, a turf sprint named after the dam of Sunday Silence. A win by Hear My Prayer would be fitting, for her story also is based largely on her dam.

Florida breeder Janet Erwin teamed in 2006 with trainer Terry Oliver, her son-in-law, on a pair of weanlings. They sold one and kept the other, a filly by Songandaprayer. In early 2008, the filly was ready to breeze, but she did not have a name. Erwin was dealing with more pressing issues.

Erwin had a younger daughter in her 20s. Kali Erwin’s challenges began early. Born in 1983, she suffered from a seizure disorder and underwent multiple brain surgeries.

“They told me she would live until she was 4,” Erwin said. “She put up such a fight.”

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Now it was 2008 and Kali Erwin was hospitalized with leukemia. Janet Erwin was by her side in intensive care when Terry Oliver called. Family and health issues aside, the horse business went on. The filly by Songandaprayer needed a name before official workouts could be recorded.

“I’m sitting there, looking at my daughter,” Janet Erwin recalled. “She had a wonderful life, just too short. I’m looking at Kali, and thinking, goll-darn ‘We need an additional prayer.’ ”

It hit home – the filly was named Additional Prayer, and her career began auspiciously. She won her first start in May, racing two furlongs at Calder. Two months later in July, she won the J J'sdream Stakes, also at Calder. But her racing career was short. Those were her only starts. And later that year, Kali Erwin passed away at age 25.

“She loved the horses,” Janet Erwin said. “And she touched everybody’s lives. When she got leukemia, after putting up such a fight her whole life, maybe God was just saying, okay, it’s time.”

While it would be understandable to dwell on loss, Janet Erwin speaks proudly of her daughter, and her daughter’s courage. Erwin kept Additional Prayer for her Florida broodmare band. Additional Prayer was bred to The Big Beast, and the foal was named with Kali Erwin in mind.

“Kali had a short life, but she touched everybody’s lives,” Janet Erwin said. “And she answered all our prayers.”

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Another good name. The mare’s first runner is named Hear My Prayer, who won 4 of 9, including two stakes before being sold in 2021. She ran well all three starts in California for owners David and Holly Wilson; Vladimir Cerin is the trainer. Hear My Prayer’s last-out third stamps her the one to beat in the Wishing Well against Alice Marble, Tapwater, and Thrilling.

As for Additional Prayer, she is in foal to The Big Beast, due in April. That foal is a full sibling to Hear My Prayer. Erwin has already thought about it.

“I might name the next one, Keep Praying,” she said.

Amen.