Saguaro Row in fine form for Fritchie

Trainer Michael Stidham believes Saguaro Row ran the best race of her career last month at Aqueduct, but hopes she has another top effort left in her when she seeks her first graded victory in Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Barbara Fritchie going seven furlongs at Laurel Park.

On Jan. 20 at Aqueduct, Saguaro Row was a perfect-trip winner of the $100,000 Interborough Stakes, earning an 86 Beyer Speed Figure and the best Ragozin sheet number of her career.

“That’s a little concerning coming back a little quick off of a top [figure]. You worry about regression off of that,” Stidham said. “Her last three races have been the best three races of her career.”

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In November, Saguaro Row won the Pumpkin Pie Stakes at Aqueduct, then came back a month later to run second to the Grade 1 winner Spiced Perfection in the Grade 3 Go for Wand, a one-mile race also at Aqueduct. In the Interborough, Saguaro Row worked out a sweet trip behind a trio of leaders before drawing away to win by 2 3/4 lengths.

“She’s in a really good place right now as far as physically and mentally,” Stidham said. “She seems to like these seven-furlong distance races. There’s a little bit of speed to set it up for her, to sit off and stalk. I think we’re in good shape.”

Jose Lezcano, who was aboard Saguaro Row for the first time in the Interborough, will head down to Laurel from New York to ride her in the Fritchie, which drew a field of six.

The West Virginia-bred Anna’s Bandit reeled off six consecutive victories from August through December, including stakes victories at Timonium, two at Charles Town, and two at Laurel. The streak came to an end when she finished second in the Geisha to Artful Splatter. However, trainer John Robb has appealed the stewards’ denial of his and jockey Xavier Perez’s objection lodged immediately after the race, alleging that Artful Splatter interfered with Anna’s Bandit. Artful Splatter did drift out four paths in that race, causing Anna’s Bandit to alter course.

Robb wasn’t necessarily planning to run Anna’s Bandit in the Fritchie, but said she was so aggressive last week that he couldn’t keep her in the barn.

“She tried to run off Saturday. I ended up having to breeze her Sunday just to keep her on the ground,” Robb said. “This is definitely a bigger ask, but there’s nowhere for her to run. I like to keep her in those restricted races, but there’s nothing for her until the middle of April. She’s doing so good, I figured I’d give her a shot.”

Majestic Reason won the Willa On the Move Stakes at Laurel last Dec. 28 for Graham Motion and was second behind Anna’s Bandit in the Politely before that. Victim of Love and Needs Supervision, the 1-2 finishers in the What A Summer Stakes at Laurel on Jan. 18, are back in this field.

Blue Eyed Girl has won three in a row but against much weaker competition.