Fast Anna tries turf in return
June 10, 2015It will be an afternoon of firsts for Fast Anna on Thursday at Gulfstream Park. He leads the $60,000 Sawgrass Handicap, which will be his first race since a close fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint last November. Fast Anna, a front-runner, also will be making his turf debut in the five-furlong race and will be breaking from the rail for the first time.
The Sawgrass is for 3-year-olds and up and goes as the third race. Fast Anna is the 121-pound highweight in a field of seven that includes Breitling Flyer, the probable second choice off an optional $62,500 claiming win on turf at Gulfstream, and Phish Fan, who is entered for the main track only.
Fast Anna (Last 3 Beyers: 98-97-95); He comes off perhaps the best race of his career. He set smoking fractions in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 1 before finishing fifth, 2 1/2 lengths behind winner and eventual champion Work All Week. The BC Sprint has produced three next-out winners. Private Zone, who was third, returned to capture the Grade 1 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct with a Beyer Speed Figure of 110. Salutos Amigos, who was seventh, rebounded with a win in the Grade 3 Fall Highweight Handicap at Aqueduct with a 105 Beyer. Big Macher, the ninth-place finisher in the BC Sprint, came back to win the $100,000 Cary Grant at Del Mar with a 98 Beyer.
Fast Anna shows a pair of bullet works at Gulfstream, going a half-mile in 46.60 seconds May 16 and five-eighths in 1:00.20 on May 30. As for turf, Fast Anna’s sire, Medaglia d’Oro, gets 11 percent debut turf winners and 13 percent winners overall on grass. Fast Anna’s dam, champion Dreaming of Anna, was a graded stakes winner on grass. Her turf record was 8 for 13 for earnings of more than $900,000. Overall, Dreaming of Anna banked $2 million and won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. Fast Anna broke from post 12 last out in the Breeders’ Cup, when he ran the opening half-mile in 43.20 seconds. Breaking from the rail Thursday, he should be able to take the shortest way home. Michael Ritvo rides for his mother, trainer Kathy Ritvo. He is 2 for 2 on Fast Anna, with both of those wins coming over the main track at Gulfstream. Frank Calabrese bred and owns Fast Anna.