First Winner for Anchor Down

Pulling off the 12-1 upset, Drop Anchor wins on debut at Ellis Park

It was a smooth sailing debut for ANCHOR DOWN’s Drop Anchor at Ellis Park on August 9th as the two-year-old colt became the first winner for his freshman sire, going six furlongs on the dirt for trainer Kenny McPeak. 

Going off at 12-1 odds, the son of ANCHOR DOWN was back in fifth at the top of the stretch. With Brian Joseph Hernandez Jr. in the irons, Drop Anchor ran to the center of the track and found a new gear, crossing the wire 1 ½ lengths ahead in a time of 1:12.32. 

Bred in Kentucky by Chad Frederick and Phoenix Farm and Racing, Drop Anchor is the first foal out of the mare Black Coronas (Curlin). The colt was purchased for $90,000 at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select Yearling Sale by Harold Lerner. He is owned by Harold Lerner LLC, AWC Stables, Nehoc Stables and David Bernsen LLC and trained by Kenny McPeak. 

This marks the first win for Gainesway’s freshman sire ANCHOR DOWN, a nine-year-old son of sire of sires TAPIT. Anchor Down is a half-sibling to Grade 1 winner Sweet Lulu. His first crop of 2YO’s sold up to $270,000. Of Anchor Down’s five lifetime starters, four have hit the board in their first outings.