Anna’s Bandit guns for sixth straight in Politely

Anna’s Bandit. Photo by Laurie Asseo.

No Guts No Glory Farm’s Anna’s Bandit, a career 15-time winner that hasn’t lost a race since mid-July, goes after her sixth consecutive victory and 10th lifetime stakes triumph in the $75,000 Politely.

Anna’s Bandit, a 5-year-old Great Notion mare, hasn’t raced since capturing the Maryland Million Distaff Oct. 19 – her second stakes win in seven days following the West Virginia Cavada Breeders’ Classic at Charles Town.

Since launching her career in the spring of 2016, Anna’s Bandit has finished third or better in 24 of 31 career starts with a bankroll of $658,715 and stakes wins at Laurel, Charles Town and Timonium. She is nine-for-19 lifetime at Laurel, her home track.

Jockey Xavier Perez will be aboard Anna’s Bandit for the 27th consecutive time in the Politely. All but two of her wins have come under Perez, who is also her regular morning exercise partner. They were third, beaten a length and a neck, in last year’s Politely.

“She’s been very special to me since we hooked up. We’ve been knocking down some good races and she’s never let me down. She always proves when she’s out there that she’s all heart. She’s a hard-knocking mare and hopefully she keeps on going this upcoming year,” Perez said. “She feels better than ever.”

Anna’s Bandit has worked twice since the Maryland Million, firing a five-furlong bullet of 1:00.60 Nov. 30, the fastest of 18 horses. She and Perez will break from Post 3 at topweight of 124 pounds.

“She’s amazing. She’s just a push-button horse,” Perez said. “Like I always say, it’s Anna’s world and we’re just living in it. I ask her to do things that another horse can’t do. She just does it. We have a nice connection and she’s just lovely. She’s kind and she’s nice to ride in the morning. I get on her every morning. I don’t let anyone else get on her, she’s my special horse.”

Wayne Harrison, Robert Manfuso and Katy Voss’ Las Setas is also a multiple stakes winner, having captured the Wide Country, Beyond the Wire and Weber City Miss in succession during a four-race win streak this spring.

Trained by Voss, the 3-year-old filly got some time off after finishing seventh in the Black-Eyed Susan (G2) May 17, having earned an automatic berth by virtue of her Weber City Miss win. She was entered and scratched from last weekend’s $100,000 Imagining Safely Kept, an open seven-furlong sprint that drew a field of 13.

“I thought there was too much speed in there, and there was. They went 22 and change and 45 and change,” Voss said. “I think she can go six or seven [furlongs]. She kind of likes being near the front and that’ll be easier going three-quarters. Trying to go 22 and 45 and change and go seven-eighths after six months off, that’s a tall order.”

Instead, Las Setas will begin her comeback against fellow state-bred/sired horses, although it will mean facing elders for the first time. Jevian Toledo rides from Post 1.

“She’s doing good. I gave her a big gallop last weekend because I knew we were going to have bad weather for a couple days. She’s ready. This race Saturday is not going to be easy, but I think it’s a better place to bring her back,” Voss said. “Of course we’re going to have to face Anna’s Bandit, but Anna’s a closer and if there isn’t too much other speed in there it may set up better for us than last week would have.”

Also entered are 2018 Miss Disco Stakes winner Majestic Reason, third in the Gallant Bloom (G2) two starts back; multiple stakes winner Limited View; Phantom Shot, fifth by 2 ¼ lengths in last year’s Politely; and Three Hawk.

LATEST MARYLAND NEWS