Hotshot Anna, Amy's Challenge in training at Hawthorne

STICKNEY, Ill. – Trainer Hugh Robertson on Wednesday was back in the land of his youth, Nebraska, but there is plenty afoot in his stable at Hawthorne.

Wynn Time, the excellent Illinois-bred sprinter, is entered to race Saturday at Hawthorne in the $50,000 Lightning Jet, his first start since Jan. 19.

Hotshot Anna, the leading synthetic-surface female sprinter in North America, worked last week at Hawthorne and is set to start later this month at Fair Grounds in the Richard Scherer Memorial, a turf sprint. Also training with the Robertson string is the high-level 4-year-old filly dirt sprinter Amy’s Challenge, who hasn’t started since finishing third in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff in early May. Mac Robertson, Hugh’s son, trains Amy’s Challenge, and the filly will join up with Mac’s barn at Oaklawn Park.

“She’s just jogging so far, but she looks great,” said Robertson.

Wynn Time has won eight of his 11 starts, and captured three stakes during the Fair Grounds meet last season before going to the sidelines with recurring knee problems. He’s certain to be favored here Saturday facing Illinois-breds, but Robertson is less than confident Wynn Time will return to the races in the same form he left the track last winter.