An emotional owner-trainer Hugh Robertson said that stable star Hotshot Anna is entered in the Keeneland November sale this autumn, but might not be willing to part with her.
“I told my wife it’ll be a sad day when we don’t have Anna in the barn,” Robertson said.
The feeling is understandable given all the five-year-old daughter of Trappe Shot has accomplished, including a successful title defense of the $400,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters (G2) on Monday night.
The 11-10 favorite against seven rivals in the 6 1/2-furlong dash on Tapeta, Hot Shot Anna stalked outside Regal Chant and Talk Veuve to Me, took over from the latter in upper stretch and came home 1 1/4 lengths in front under Antonio Gallardo. Misericordia, a 63-1 chance, finished third.
Hotshot Anna paid $4.20 after completing the course in 1:15.32. She is the fourth mare to win this race, inaugurated in 2007, twice. The others were champions Informed Decision (2010-11) and Groupie Doll (2012-13), plus Living the Life (2014-15).
This was the sixth career stakes win for the chestnut, who won the Masters by 4 1/2 lengths last year as well as the Chicago H. (G3) at Arlington. She’s also four-for-four at Presque Isle with a pair of wins in the $100,000 Satin and Lace, which she won for a second time on August 19.
“She came back from the Satin and Lace a little tired,” Robertson said. “I eased up on her and worked her only one time before this race. She came into this real good though and I was fairly confident. I knew she had to run her best race and she generally does.”
Given four months off last winter after breaking her withers, Hotshot Anna has now now compiled a record of 22-10-6-1, $863,440. She was bred in Kentucky by Paul Tackett and was produced by the stakes-placed Holy Bull mare Avalos.
