Anja scored her second consecutive local win at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Thursday afternoon in what was the first half of a double on the card for trainer Dave Dewhurst and driver Jimmy Devaux.
The three-year-old daughter of Credit Winner, who showed promise as a freshman last year, set her lifetime mark two weeks ago at the Spa in a non-winners of two race lifetime trot.
On Thursday, Anja was back in town to compete in a $7,500 race for New York sired trotters after making a break in the Weiss at Pocono last week. Devaux got a second-over journey for the sophomore filly who raced the majority of the mile on the outside.
Anja trotted quickly in the stretch and powered away to win by a length and a half in 2:00.3, a time that is just a fifth of a second off of her lifetime mark.
Devaux and Dewhurst teamed up for a win later on the card with veteran trotter Choke Hold (Conway Hall) who came on late to prevail in 2:00. It was the first victory on the season for the 13-year-old high stepper who has been a Dewhurst trainee for several years.
Live racing continues on Friday night at Saratoga with a 6:45 p.m. first post.
(Saratoga Casino Hotel)