By Jim Freer
Thursday, June 11 — Fast Anna will make his first 2015 start today, heading the field for Gulfstream Park’s $60,000 Sawgrass Handicap at five furlongs on turf.
Yes, his is the word for Fast Anna–and so is fast.
The horse is one of several that breeder and owner Frank Carl Calabrese (photo above) has named in memory of his late sister Anna.
The Sawgrass is for 3-year-olds and up. It will be the turf debut for Fast Anna, a 4-year-old-colt.
Fast Anna won his first two starts last year, both at Gulfstream. He then finished second in the King’s Bishop (Grade 1) at Saratoga and third in the Gallant Bob (Grade 3) at Parx Racing near Philadelphia. He closed his season with a fifth place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (Grade 1) at Santa Anita, after leading through the first half mile.
In the Sawgrass, Fast Anna is the 3-5 morning line favorite in a six-horse field.
Trainer Kathy Ritvo has given her son Michael the riding assignment.
Fast Anna has a strong turf pedigree.
His sire Medaglia d’Oro, a dirt champion at two turns in the United States, is a son of the European turf star and sire El Prado.
His dam Dreamig of Anna won the 2007 Breedes’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (Grade 1). Her sire was the turf star Rahy.
Breitling Flyer, trained by Enrique Sanchez, could be the top threat to Fast Anna.
Breitling Flyer is coming off a win May 9 in a $62,500 optional claimer at 7 ½ furlongs on turf at Gulfstream.
Luca Panici will ride Breitling Flyer, who has the outside post. Fast Anna has the rail. Both have early speed.
The Sawgrass is the third race with scheduled post time of 2:00 p.m.
It will be part of an eight-race card, with first post of 1:-00p.m.
* As a possible omen of good fortune for the Ritvos, Wednesday’s feature race had a winning father-daughter combination.
Brittany Arter burn rode Lost Camper, and her fatter Lonnie Arterburn trains that horse
Lost Camper beat Proper Empire by three-quarters of a length in a 1 1/16th mile turf race with a $40,000 purse. The 6-5 favorite Whisper Onthe Wind came in third, a head behind Proper Empire.
Lost Camper, a 9-year-old horse, went off at 6-1as the fourth lowest price in the eight-horse field. He won in 1:42.86 on a course listed as firm. It gave him a record of three victories and one second place finish on the Gulfstream turf.
