Anna’s Bandit in tough spot

Anna’s Bandit represented her home state of West Virginia in a notable way last year when she tied for North America’s winningest horse of 2019.

She’s back home Friday night for the $50,000 Original Gold at Charles Town. The sevenfurlong race, which will be run around two turns, is for fillies and mares bred in West Virginia.

Anna’s Bandit won this race a year ago, during a 2019 campaign in which she won nine races from 11 starts. She reeled off seven stakes wins during that period and earned $401,830.

“She had a great year,” said Jerry Robb, who trains Anna’s Bandit for No Guts No Glory Farm. “We kept her in Maryland-sired and West Virginia-bred races, which we plan on doing again this year.”

Robb said the exception was her last start, when Anna’s Bandit ran in the Grade 3 Barbara Fritchie on Feb. 15 at Laurel. She finished a troubled third, and the Beyer Speed Figure of 84 that she earned is the best last-race number in the Original Gold.

“I thought this might be an easy spot,” Robb said. “It didn’t turn up that easy.”

The Original Gold field of nine includes Grace Elizabeth, who is chasing after her fifth straight win, and Parisian Diva, a four-time stakes winner who launched her season last out with an allowance win at Charles Town.

Anna’s Bandit has been working regularly at Laurel for her return to action at Charles Town, where she is 5 for 7.

“That’s probably her best race, seven-eighths,” Robb said. Anna’s Bandit has won four times at seven furlongs and once at 6 1/2 furlongs at Charles Town.

Anna’s Bandit comes off a seven-furlong start in the Fritchie, which was run around one turn. She rallied from last to finish 2 3/4 lengths behind winner Majestic Reason.

“She had to alter course two or three times,” said Robb, noting Anna’s Bandit had defeated Majestic Reason in December in the Politely at Laurel.

Anna’s Bandit will break from post 5 on Friday night, under Gerald Almodovar.

“The one horse, Parisian Diva, looks like she’ll make the lead,” Robb said. “We won’t let her get too far away. My filly has speed. If you ask her, she’ll go.”

Anna’s Bandit, a 10-time stakes winner bred by Robb, is a 6-year-old by Great Notion.

Grace Elizabeth, also is by Great Notion, started her streak in October. She won a two-other-than allowance at Charles Town, then knocked out three more allowances at the track. Her latest came Feb. 13, and for the effort she earned a career-high Beyer of 74. Jose Montano has the mount for trainer Jeff Runco.

Parisian Diva won a May 15 allowance at Charles Town in her first start since October. She led throughout and earned a Beyer of 73. J.D. Acosta was aboard and again has the mount for trainer Stacey Viands.