One race at a time, Smart Union (Union Rags) is confirming her dam Smart Mission (Smart Strike) to be among the shrewder mare purchases in recent seasons.

Coming into Gulfstream Park's 9th race Sunday off a first-level allowance win at Tampa Bay Downs, the 3yo JP Evans homebred proved up to another class hike. The Graham Motion trainee finished strong to win the mile allowance for non-winners of two other than by 3/4 length.

Saving ground to the 1/4 pole under Luis Saez, Smart Union was sent through between horses and finished resolutely to outpace runner-up Annelle in the deciding strides under high weight of 122 lbs.

Now winner in three of her past four starts, Smart Union is 1/2 to MGSW Sam-Son Farm-bred Mission of Joy (Kitten's Joy), who at 6yo remains in training with Motion. She is Kitten's Joy's lone GSW out of a Smart Strike mare.

Undefeated in two career starts, Smart Mission was acquired by Evans for $160,000 out of Sam-Son's 2021 Broodmare Dispersal, via agent Patrick Lawley-Wakelin.

Gulfstream Park/Coglianese photo.