Saratoga 2024: Thorpedo Anna is much the best in CCA Oaks (2024)

Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Now, for the $1.25 million question.

AfterThorpedo Annaproduced yet another dominant performance in the Grade 1, $500,000Coaching Club American OaksSaturday at Saratoga Race Course, does trainer Kenny McPeek dare to have her tackle the boys here in the $1.25 million Travers (G1)?

McPeek’s readily acknowledged that his background is filled with bold strokes. “I’m inclined to do that, aren’t I?” he said, smiling broadly in the Saratoga winner’s circle.

The Lexington native never hesitated, for instance, when Swiss Skydiver defeated males in the 2020 Preakness. And it is safe to say he’s on a roll after completing a historic sweep of the Kentucky Oaks with Thorpedo Anna and the Kentucky Derby with Mystik Dan.

Beyond his history, virtually all of his post-race comments suggested he will send the very fast daughter of Fast Anna into the famed “Mid-summer Derby” Aug. 24, a move that would thrill racing fans and surely have this iconic upstate New York track rocking.

“If I run her in the Alabama, it’s no fun for anybody. Nobody is going run against her. What would she be, 1-2 or less?” said McPeek, thinking aloud. “I like challenges. I’d be sticking my neck out a little bit, but I think the sport can really enjoy seeing a filly take on the colts.”

He added, “I’m going to look at the numbers and look at them really hard and make an educated decision to think that we can run with them. I watched Dornoch run today (in the Haskell), 1:50 and change. There is not that much separation there, at least on time. It’s a good problem.”

Thorpedo Anna lunged outward at the start of the Coaching Club American Oaks and struck the side of the gate to break last in the short field of four. She recovered almost instantly.

“It just goes to show you how talented she is,” said jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr. “She hopped but she was able to get out of the gate so fast that they weren’t able to get away from her and she was able to secure her spot going into the first turn.”

Hernandez merely bided his time in second as Leslie’s Rose and jockey John Velazquez traveled the opening quarter of a mile in 24.28 seconds, the half in 47.89 seconds and three-quarters in an unpressured 1:11.80.

When Hernandez signaled his mount that it was time to go, Thorpedo Anna blew past the frontrunner as if she was standing still. She drew off under a strong hand ride, completing 1 1/8 miles 1:50.95. Candied was a well-beaten second, trailing by 4 ½ lengths. Then came Intricate and a cooked Leslie’s Rose.

Thorpedo Anna made it 4 for 4 this season, sweeping the Fantasy (G2) at Oaklawn Park March 30, the May 3 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, the June 7 Acorn (G1) at Saratoga and now the Coaching Club. The combined margin: 18 ¾ lengths, with the last three races in the streak all meriting Grade 1 status. The 40,000 bargain purchase prevailed for the sixth tine in seven career starts while hiking her earnings to $1,880,663.

Thorpedo Anna improved to 3 for 3 at 1 1/8 miles. She would be asked to go 1 1/4 miles for the first time in the Travers. That is part of what needs to be addressed in considering whether the Travers is the next logical spot or the Aug. 17 Alabama, which is run at the same distance but would be against much weaker competition.

“A mile and a quarter, I don’t know where she fits another eighth of a mile,” McPeek noted. “How many colts really want to go that far, too? Can she?”

Then he answered his own question. “I think she’ll keep going.”

Asked if there is any downside to taking on the massive challenge the Travers would represent, McPeek responded, “I don’t think so. I think no matter what happened, they would make her champion 3-year-old filly. But that’s somebody else’s vote.” McPeek does not expect to make a decision any time soon.

No one knows McPeek or Thorpedo Anna better than Danny Ramsey, her 74-year-old exercise rider. What does he think his boss will do?

“My trainer likes to take his shots,” he said. “He loves to take his shots.”