Hotshot Anna keeps rolling with victory in Presque Isle Masters

Hotshot Anna kept burning on Monday night, scoring her fourth consecutive victory - and biggest win of her career - in the Grade 2, $400,000 Presque Isle Masters at Presque Isle Downs.

Code Warrior got away quickly from post 7 in the field of 11 fillies and mares, and showed the way through a hot opening quarter of 22.30 seconds, with Lady Alexandra, who broke from the outside post, on her hip. Hotshot Anna and jockey Antonio Gallardo sat third, getting a perfect stalking trip in the 6 1/2-furlong race.

Code Warrior led by a length around the far turn after a half in 44.73 seconds, and gamely attempted to kick on into the lane. But Gallardo tipped Hotshot Anna out to split horses between Code Warrior and the fading Lady Alexandra, and she responded strongly to strike the lead and hit the wire in front by 4 1/4 lengths.

Hotshot Anna stopped the clock in 1:14.73 for the 6 1/2 furlongs on the all-weather track - just missing the track mark of 1:14.73, established by Ami's Mesa in winning the 2017 Masters. Hotshot Anna paid $6.80 to win.

Let It Ride Mom came on to be second, nipping Crazy Sweet by a head. Both were longshots, triggering an exacta payout of $116.80 and trifecta of $442.68, even though Hotshot Anna had been sent away as the second choice.

Three-quarters of a length behind Crazy Sweet came fourth-place finisher Browse, who was followed, in order, by Princess La Quinta, Tulsa Queen, Code Warrior, the favored Ami's Mesa, Lady Alexandra, Miss Gossip, and Noted and Quoted. Defending winner Ami's Mesa was coming off a layoff in her second start of the year. She finished sixth, beaten only 1 1/2 lengths, in the Grade 1 Madison Stakes in April at Keeneland.

Hotshot Anna, a 4-year-old Trappe Shot filly owned and trained by Hugh Robertson, began her winning streak in an optional-claiming race in May at Canterbury Park, then won the Grade 3 Chicago Handicap at Arlington a month later by 5 3/4 lengths. In August, she shipped to Presque Isle for a 3 3/4-length score in the Satin and Lace Stakes, which serves as a local prep for the Masters.

The Masters, the richest and most prestigious event on Presque Isle’s schedule, has developed into a productive prep for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, as evidenced just last year, when Ami’s Mesa led Bar of Gold home by a length in the Masters. Bar of Gold went on to edge Ami’s Mesa by a nose in the Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar and was one of three Eclipse Award divisional finalists. The Masters also has been won by Eclipse champions Informed Decision (in 2009 and 2010), Musical Romance (2011), and Groupie Doll (2012 and 2013).