Grade 2 winner Hotshot Anna back in training after freak accident

Hotshot Anna, North America’s leading older-filly synthetic-surface sprinter of 2018, has recovered from a freak accident this winter at Fair Grounds and is in steady training again for Hugh Robertson.

Hotshot Anna was being bathed outside Robertson’s barn when a wind gust blew something that startled the mare, causing her to rear and topple backward, fracturing her withers. The injury, Robertson said from the start, never appeared to cause Hotshot Anna significant discomfort but she needed several months of rest for the fracture to heal, which it has.

Hotshot Anna won the Grade 3 Chicago Handicap over seven furlongs on Polytrack and easily captured the Grade 2, $400,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters last fall to cap a very successful campaign for Robertson, her owner and trainer. If all goes well she’s on track to follow a similar race pattern this year.

Robertson said that Wynn Time, the crack Illinois-bred sprinter who needed some rest and recuperation following three stakes wins at Fair Grounds this past fall and winter, still was turned out at a farm but would rejoin his string at Arlington in May.

◗ Hawthorne racing secretary Allen Plever said late last week he was skeptical that the turf course could be used before the meet ends.

◗ Arlington opened its stable gate last week and its racing surface for training this past Saturday. The Arlington meet begins May 3.