Baffert Impressed with Fast Anna's Drill

Bob Baffert had just watched his Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) contender Bayern work five furlongs in :59 4/5 when he saw trainer Kathy Ritvo waiting for her colt Fast Anna to break off in his work for the Xpressbet Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I).

Baffert has one of the favorites for the BC Sprint in last year's winner Secret Circle, and also has the undefeated Indianapolis in the race, so he had reason to take note.

"Man, he's flying," Baffert muttered as the son of Medaglia d'Oro   zipped toward the half-mile pole with a full head of steam. That was enough for Baffert to put his stopwatch on the colt.

Fast Anna was rolling around there, with Baffert getting his opening eighth in :11 flat and opening quarter in :21 4/5. That brought out a litany of superlatives from Baffert, who is not unfamiliar with horses working fast.

"Damn, that is a fast sonofagun," he said.

After three furlongs in :34 flat, Baffert caught him going the half in :45 3/5. Fast Anna was credited with an official five-furlong move in :57 flat, fastest of 55 at the distance on the morning.

"They should make that s.o.b. a Quarter Horse," he said to Ritvo. "That's the fastest work I've seen over this track. They usually stop in the final eighth when they go that fast, but he kept going. That is wicked speed."

Fast Anna, owned and bred by Frank Calabrese, won his first two starts, including a 13-length romp in an allowance race at Gulfstream Park.

He then finished second in the grade I King's Bishop Stakes at Saratoga Race Course and grade III Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx Racing.

Fast Anna demonstrated more of that "wicked speed" in his first workout following the Gallant Bob, breezing five furlongs Oct. 11 at Gulfstream in :57 2/5.