As much uncertainty as there might be in the 3-year-old male division, there’s an even greater amount of certainty about the leader of the 3-year-old filly ranks.
Thorpedo Anna took a decisive grip on the division when she captured the Acorn Stakes (G1) June 7 at Saratoga Race Course, and the Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner is poised to tighten her hold next week when she returns to the Spa.
The daughter of Fast Anna drew post three July 14 in a field of five for the $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) July 20 at Saratoga.
The field for the 1 1/8-mile stakes, from the rail out, consists of Candied , Barbratina , Thorpedo Anna, Leslie’s Rose , and Intricate .
“She is doing fantastic. She’s thrived here. We kept her up here since her last run. It’s all systems go,” trainer Kenny McPeek said about the 3-year-old filly owned by Nader Alaali, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks, and Magdalena Racing, which is run by McPeek and his wife, Sherri.
Thorpedo Anna remained at the Spa following her 5 1/2-length victory in the Acorn and has continued to blossom. She has captured her last three starts—the Acorn, Kentucky Oaks, and Fantasy Stakes (G2)—by a combined 14 1/4 lengths.
“She had a nice work Saturday (five furlongs in 1:01.55 at the Oklahoma training track). She’s been easy-peasy,” McPeek said. “It’s uncomplicated with her.”
There has been speculation the filly may run against the boys including the Aug. 24 Travers Stakes (G1). That speculation is fueled in part by her success but also she strikes an imposing figure compared to other fillies.
“She eats extremely well, which is not something that all fillies do,” McPeek said. “She’s aggressive in the feed tub at night, and that makes our job a lot easier when she’s like that.”
While Thorpedo Anna continues to thrive, the same cannot be said of her stablemate, Mystik Dan . McPeek shipped the Kentucky Derby (G1) winner from New York to Kentucky earlier this week and said Sunday that he will continue to monitor the 3-year-old son of Goldencents before deciding on future plans.
McPeek said he’s taking it easy with the classic winner in hopes of having a productive 4-year-old season.
“Nothing’s happening with him,” McPeek said. “We backed off him for a while and haven’t made any plans to move forward. We are going to go easy with him until he’s ready. We want to make sure he’s a good older horse.”
Mystik Dan is owned by Four G Racing, Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby III, and Valley View Farm.
With Mystik Dan likely out of the Travers Stakes picture, McPeek laughed when the possibility was raised of running Thorpedo Anna in the Mid-Summer Derby.
“It’s too early to talk about that,” he said.
Entries: Coaching Club American Oaks (G1)
Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, July 20, 2024, Race 11
- Grade I
- 1 1/8m
- Dirt
- $500,000
- 3 yo Fillies
- 6:17 PM (local)
 "BCCI want Test specialists to play domestic cricket; Rohit, Virat, Bumrah to be exceptions")
