McPeek weighs options for Thorpedo Anna, Mystik Dan

Dual-Grade 1 winner Thorpedo Anna breezed a half-mile in 49.25 seconds Saturday over the Oklahoma dirt training track at Saratoga, marking her first timed activity since capturing the Grade 1 Acorn on June 7 during the Belmont Stakes racing festival.

Trained by Kenny McPeek, the Fast Anna dark bay parlayed a victory in the nine-furlong Kentucky Oaks (G1) with an impressive 5 1/2-length score at the same distance in the Acorn. She lost her front right shoe during the first turn of the winning effort, and the conditioner subsequently noted the foot was a little tender after the race.

The promising sophomore filly has resumed training and is on track for a next start in the nine-furlong Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) on July 20 at Saratoga.

“She did a maintenance half-mile by herself, easy stuff. We’ve got four weeks until she runs. Keeping her in routine, she is probably 95 to 100 percent for the Coaching Club if everything goes right,” said McPeek. “We will evaluate the race and see about the Alabama or Travers next.”

Thorpedo Anna is 3-for-3 this year, also winning the Fantasy (G2) in March at Oaklawn Park. All three trips were under regular pilot Brian Hernandez, Jr., who also was aboard for her three starts as a 2-year-old, two wins and a second in the Golden Rod (G2) at Churchill Downs.

McPeek has called Thorpedo Anna “a grizzly” and entertained the idea of matching her up against colts, which has been contingent upon where Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan finds himself. The Goldencents bay exited for a second in the Preakness at Pimlico and an off-the-board finish in the Belmont Stakes as the only horse to compete in all three legs of the Triple Crown.

After his Triple Crown-trail efforts, Mystik Dan scoped with some mucus, but McPeek provided an update that the colt is doing well. He is pointed towards the Travers (G1) on Aug. 24 at Saratoga and then the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) on Sept. 21 at Parx.

“No intentions of running him in the Jim Dandy. He ran hard all spring, and is getting a bit of a break, plenty of grazing time, horse is happy and healthy” McPeek said. “He will probably go Travers, Pennsylvania Derby.”

Gould’s Gold finished a close second in Saturday’s nine-furlong Ohio Derby (G3) at Thistledown. The Goldencents gray followed the pacesetting Batten Down five lengths back from second position and made up mild ground on that rival late to round out the exacta 1 3/4 lengths back.

McPeek said the Jim Dandy (G2) on July 27 at Saratoga could be next.

“We liked the race. This was a horse that was improving, and we think we’ve got more in him. We will probably nominate him to the Jim Dandy,” McPeek said, adding that the nine-furlong Curlin on July 19 at The Spa, restricted for 3-year-olds who have not won a graded stakes at a mile or over in 2024, also could be in play.

Before the Ohio Derby, Gould’s Gold was beaten by a nose after taking the lead late in the 1 1/16-mile Sir Barton on May 18 at Churchill. Something appeared to have caught his attention and he was nailed at the wire by Corporate Power.

“He was still figuring it out. He is a colt that kind of grinds it out, and he seems to have figured it out now. So we will give him another shot against straight 3-year-olds before that window closes,” McPeek said. “He will definitely run at Saratoga in his next start, though.”

Also seen at Thistledown Saturday was graded stakes-placed Corningstone finishing third as a beaten favorite in the nine-furlong Listed Lady Jacqueline off a last-out optional-claiming win on June 9 at Churchill. The Indiana-bred Kantharos mare will be pointed to a return to state-bred company next out.

“She ran OK. I think she is good for a little better than that, no harm no foul,” McPeek said. “It put her over a half-million. She is probably going to go to an Indiana restricted race later in the season, we just want to have her right and ready for it.”

Multiple graded-stakes winner Classic Causeway is entered in the Stephen Foster (G1) on June 29 at Churchill. The 5-year-old Giant’s Causeway chestnut won the turf Belmont Derby (G1) in July 2021 and will look to add another Grade 1 to his ledger on the dirt in the Stephen Foster.

“It’s an ambitious spot, he is an accomplished Grade 1 winner, and we are really hoping to get more Grade 1 black type with him,” McPeek said.