Since trainer Dan Hendricks switched Annihilation to the turf, with a focus on sprinting, some ten months ago, the 4-year-old daughter of Northern Afleet has become a win machine, taking five of seven one-turn races. The latest came Mar. 14 at Santa Anita, when she closed with a tremendous rally in the final furlong to take the inaugural running of the Clocker’s Corner H. on the unique 6 1/2-furlong downhill turf course.

Annihilation broke eighth out of 11 in the Clocker’s Corner, and as is usual in the downhill turf races, the early pace was very quick, with a :43.55 first half mile. Still in eighth just over a furlong from the wire, jockey Alex Solis swung the bay filly wide to avoid traffic along the rail. She responded with plenty of spirit, passing seven horses and making up 4 ¾-lengths to get the win by a neck over post-time favorite Czechers in a final time of 1:12.50.

Annihilation is 2-for-2 on the year; she previously won the A.B. Leggio Memorial H. over the Fair Grounds lawn on Jan. 23. Overall she has won $217,270 for owners Jeff Davenport, Tom Lenner, William Strauss, and Alex Solis, Jr. Hendricks said the Clocker’s Corner Handicap was a prep for the $100,000 Las Cienegas H.(G3) on the downhill turf course on Apr. 11.

Northern Afleet, the sire of two champions in 2009, currently ranks among the top five stallions in North America in terms of winners, with 37 to date.