The third race at Keeneland, Wednesday April 24, featured the debut of a rocket ship, appropriately named Anna’s Fast. She won the maiden special weight by six lengths, taking the lead shortly out of the starting gate and never looking back. The first winner (and only second starter) for freshman sire Fast Anna, standing for only $7500 at Three Chimneys Farm, she was also his most expensive two-year-old, selling for $470,000 at the Ocala Breeders March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training, after fetching only $32,500 as a yearling at Fasig-Tipton July, but her worth increased when she ran a 9 4/5 furlong with ease for the sale, and her precocity at one furlong demonstrated itself equally at five and a half.

Out of the Yes Its True mare True Will, her pedigree evidences no inbreeding through the first five generations, though a glimpse further back reveals a build-up of Hail to Reason, by Turn-To, and his close genetic relative, Blushing Groom, giving us every reason to suspect she can and will go farther. Trained by Wesley Ward, whose two-year-olds, as usual, are excelling early, and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, this filly is one to keep an eye on.

Fast Anna is by Medaglia d’Oro, and, though he himself did not run at two, his dam, Dreaming of Anna, by Rahy, was Champion Two-Year-Old Filly and winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies-G1. Fast Anna was also a Grade One placer, finishing second in the prestigious King’s Bishop S.-G1 at Saratoga. When reviewing his pedigree in this publication when he began his stud career, we noted the promise there, with Blue Hen mares Somethingroyal, Ballade, La Troienne and Rough Shod II making appearances. Three Chimneys may have a serious contender for leading freshman sire in their ranks.

-- Roberta Smoodin