by Ron Parker

Frank Calabrese’s homebred Dreaming of Anna assumed her customary position as pacesetter on Saturday in the $175,000 Hillsborough Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs and pulled steadily away entering the stretch en route to a 6 3/4-length victory.

The Rahy filly was one of six older females in the 1 1/8-mile Hillsborough with most of the attention focused on a rematch between 2006 champion two-year-old filly Dreaming of Anna and Grade 1 winner Lear’s Princess. Dreaming of Anna edged that foe by a nose in the Endeavour Stakes (G3) on February 16 at Tampa on firm turf.

The Hillsborough presented a different scenario as rain left the turf course yielding. Lear’s Princess had not previously raced on yielding turf and was soundly beaten in last year’s Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) on a sloppy track at Monmouth Park.
 
With Dreaming of Anna and jockey Cornelio Velasquez controlling the pace, Lear’s Princess settled in fourth. Jockey Eibar Coa had a clear path, but when he asked Lear’s Princess to pick it up turning for home, the Lear Fan filly had no response.

“I could tell from the beginning that she didn’t like it wet,” Coa said. “She tried to quit on the back, but I wouldn’t let her. In the end, she told me that she was not going anywhere today.”

Dreaming of Anna opened a four-length advantage in early stretch and left her challengers to battle for runner-up honors as she coasted to victory in 1:52.18.

Runner-up Lady Digby finished 1 1/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher Mary Louhana (GB) with Lear’s Princess another 3 3/4 lengths back in fourth.

Calabrese said Dreaming of Anna will be headed to the breeding shed after “another race or two.” Trainer Wayne Catalano said he hopes the plans for Dreaming of Anna might include a race on Polytrack.

“Her brother [Lewis Michael] was real good on it,” Catalano said. "I want to do it one day."

Out of the Broad Brush mare Justenuffheart, Dreaming of Anna increased her earnings to $1,853,172 with nine wins in 13 starts.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Ron Parker is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer