I'm So Anna makes Pike Place Dancer first stakes win

I'm So Anna ($9.20) bounced out of the gate, set slow fractions and held off favored Consternation in the lane as she scored the first stakes win of her career with a half-length victory in the $75,000 Pike Place Dancer at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.

She broke nicely for jockey Frank Alvarado, who let her coast through fractions of 25.04, 50.57, and 1:15.31 in the one-mile turf stakes for 2-year-old fillies. Although Consternation closed well while edging Sweetest Angel for second, I'm So Anna always seemed in control through the stretch, winning in 1:39.79.

I'm So Anna has hit the board in all five starts with two wins, two seconds, and a third on Tapeta, dirt, and now turf. The KMN Racing homebred ran second as the favorite in the six-furlong Generous Portion at Del Mar this summer and was second to stakes-placed Tacoflavoredkisses when she ran against males in her debut at a mile on the main track here in her last start.

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“I just told Frank to get her out of the gate, and I was happy when I saw that first 25 fraction come up,” winning trainer Steve Sherman said.

While he felt confident watching her finish with her fastest quarter of the race in 24.48 seconds, Sherman admitted, “I was happy to see the wire come up quickly.”

Sherman said the Grade 1 Starlet at 1 1/6 miles on Dec. 5 at Los Alamitos could be next on the docket for the filly.

“She ran so well down there when she broke her maiden, I'd like to see her run there again,” he said. “She's been a joy to train. She has a great temperament and never gives up even when she's lost.”

With the $45,000 she won Saturday, I'm So Anna has gone over the $100,000 mark in earnings with $100,740. She is the daughter of Fast Anna, who had only one turf debut winner from 33 starters before her victory, and So So Fast, who earned $25,830 with a career record of 10-2-3-3.