Hotshot Anna goes back to back in Presque Isle Masters

Hotshot Anna's 1 1/4-length victory in the Satin and Lace Stakes, the local prep for the Grade 2, $400,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters, wasn't as easy as it looked on paper.

"She came back from the Satin and Lace a little tired, so I eased up on her," owner and trainer Hugh Robertson said. "I only worked her one time" -- a half-mile on Sept. 5 at Arlington -- "before this race. She came into it real good. ... I knew she'd have to run her best race."

Robertson's training schedule paid off, as Hotshot Anna had the energy in reserve to outduel Talk Veuve to Me in the stretch for a victory in the Masters. In the process, she swept the Satin and Lace and the Masters for the second year in a row, and became the fourth filly or mare in history to win the Masters twice.

Hotshot Anna ($4.20), sent away favored, added her name to an elite list of repeat winners that includes Informed Decision in 2009 and 2010, Groupie Doll in 2012 and 2013, and Living The Life in 2014 and 2015. Groupie Doll went on to win the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint in both those years to make herself a dual Eclipse Award champion, while Informed Decision earned the title in 2009, the year she also won at the Breeders' Cup.

Hotshot Anna, a 5-year-old Trappe Shot mare, came to prominence last season while winning four consecutive races to end the year, including a 5 3/4-length score in the Grade 3 Chicago Handicap, a 3 3/4-length win in the Satin and Lace, the local prep for the Masters, and finally, a 4 1/4-length victory in the Masters itself. But Hotshot Anna injured herself over the winter, breaking her withers and putting the future of her racing career in jeopardy.

In the end, the mare did make it back to the racetrack, although her 2019 campaign was delayed. She finished second in her repeat attempt at the Chicago Handicap in June, her first start in nine months. She then won an optional-claiming race at Arlington Park before returning to Pennsylvania.

Talk Veuve to Me, a Grade 3 winner and Grade 1-placed last season, came into the Masters, her first start on a synthetic track, off an allowance/optional-claiming victory at Saratoga for trainer Rodolphe Brisset. The filly and Jose Ortiz put away longshot leader Regal Chant turning for home, and edged clear to a half-length lead through a sharp half mile in 45.60 seconds. But Hotshot Anna, who had broken from post 10 in the field of 11 under Antonio Gallardo, was never out of contention while stalking the pace, and was rolling up three wide outside Talk Veuve to Me to set up a battle between the favorite and second choice. Hotshot Anna forged her way by Talk Veuve to Me in midstretch and found her measure in the final strides, drawing clear to win by 1 1/4 lengths.

The final time for the 6 1/2 furlongs was 1:15.32.

Talk Veuve to Me held second by three-quarters of a length over a rallying Misericordia, the longest shot on the board. Regal Chant faded to fourth, followed by Spring in the Wind, Late Night Pow Wow, Saguaro Row, and Crazy Sweet.