Sam Houston: Native Annie the hot one

Native Annie, who has won 4 of her last 5 starts, will cut back to one turn and return to dirt for the $40,000 Double Your Flavor at Sam Houston Race Park.

The seven-furlong race is restricted to fillies and mares bred in Texas.

Native Annie won the last time she raced around one turn, capturing a one-mile optional claiming allowance at Arlington Park Sept. 15. It was the start of her current hot streak. From there she won the $75,000 Allen Bogan at Lone Star Park and the $75,000 Martanza at Sam Houston Race Park, both two-turn stakes for fillies and mares bred in Texas.

Native Annie then finished second by a neck in the $50,000 Sam Houston Distaff Handicap before moving to turf and winning the $40,000 Tomball, a 1 1/16-mile race for statebreds in her last start Feb. 12.

In preparation for the cutback in distance, Native Annie sharpened her speed with a near-bullet workout in 48.20 seconds on March 20. Michael Stidham, who trains Native Annie for Stonerside Stable, has given the mount to Corey Lanerie.

The Double Your Flavor field of 11 also includes Lady Sonya, second to Native Annie in the Martanza; Hay Madison, third to Native Annie in the Allen Bogan; and Prom Date, fourth last to Native Annie last out in the Tomball.