Fast Anna training up a storm for King's Bishop

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Nobody has trained any faster or has looked any happier here over the past two weeks than Fast Anna, who’ll try to keep his record unblemished in Saturday’s $500,000 King’s Bishop.

Fast Anna was one of eight horses entered Wednesday for the Grade 1 King’s Bishop, drawing post 6, which puts him right next to another of the primary speed horses in the field, The Big Beast, who’ll break from post 7.

C. Zee, who like Fast Anna was stabled at Gulfstream Park when this meet began, figures to add to what could be a breakneck pace after having the misfortune of drawing the rail for the second straight race. He also broke from the fence and turned in a huge effort before settling for second behind Coup de Grace in the Grade 2 Amsterdam earlier this month.

Coup de Grace likely will go postward as the slight favorite over The Big Beast and will break from the outside in the seven-furlong King’s Bishop. Wildcat Red, Myositis Dan, Noble Cornerstone, and Noble Moon complete the lineup.

Fast Anna worked five furlongs in a bullet 58.61 seconds here Saturday and bounced out of that drill looking sharper than ever, catching the eye with very energetic gallops Tuesday and Wednesday.

“He just loves being up here and just loves this track,” said Kathy Ritvo, who trains Fast Anna for owner Frank Calabrese. “I know he’s been in front in his first two starts, but I don’t think he’s the type of horse who needs to be on the lead to win.”

John Velazquez will be aboard Fast Anna for the first time in the King’s Bishop. The son of Medaglia d’Oro was ridden to victory in his first two starts by Ritvo’s son, Michael.