It was a big juvenile win for ANCHOR DOWN on Friday night when Simmering bounced back from her second on debut to win by 2 ½ lengths in a Maiden Special Weight at Prairie Meadows.
Ridden by Alex Birzer in the 5 ½ furlong affair, the filly broke well to race just two lengths behind the leader. She was at risk of being trapped behind horses as the field rounded into a stretch but the perfect hole opened just in time for her to weave through.
Simmering still had work to do to catch the leader but as they crossed into the final sixteenth, she put on a burst of speed to pass by the leader and start pulling away. There were no other runners anywhere close to threatening for the victory, allowing Simmering to extend her lead to 2 ½ lengths in the end.
The ANCHOR DOWN filly is raced by breeder Poindexter Thoroughbreds, who has her in the charge of Lynn Chleborad.
Simmering is out of three time winning Henny Hughes mare Sky O’Blue, who was also fourth in the Flashy Lady Stakes. Sky O’Blue has two foals to her name with both now winners. The mare is out of a half-sister to stakes placers Geronimo’s Joy and Wedding Valley, with Geronimo’s Joy also producing a stakes placer.
The family also includes Argentina champion Kalithea and Swale Stakes (G2) winner Spot.
Sky O’ Blue also has a TAPWRIT weanling filly born on February 21.
TAPIT son ANCHOR DOWN continues to show he can produce winners week after week. He is currently sitting at 51.28% winners from his 39 runners with 13% stakes performers. Both numbers are higher than the percentages of all but one second crop stallion in the 10 ten by cumulative runners.