While there is much uncertainty in the 3-year-old stallion class, there is even more certainty about the 3-year-old mares’ leader.
Anna Thorpedo decisively held the division when she won the Acorn Stakes (G1) on June 7 at Saratoga Race Trackand the Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner is set to tighten her grip next week when she returns to Spa.
Daughter of Anna fast drew third on July 14 among five entrants in the $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) on July 20 at Saratoga.
The yard for the piles is 1 1/8 miles long, from the tracks out, including candy , Barbatina Thorpedo Anna, Leslie’s Rose And Complicated .
“She’s doing really well. She’s thrived here. We’ve kept her here since her last run. Everything’s going well,” trainer Kenny McPeek said of the 3-year-old mare owned by Nader Alaali, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks and Magdalena Racing, run by McPeek and his wife, Sherri.
Thorpedo Anna remains at Spa after a 5 1/2-length win at Acorn and continues to flourish. She has won her last three starts—the Acorn, Kentucky Oaks and Fantasy Stakes (G2)—by a combined 14 1/4 lengths.
“She had a good run Saturday (five furlongs in 1:01.55 at the Oklahoma training track). She’s easy,” McPeek said. “Everything is easy for her.”
There is speculation that the mare could race against stallions, including the Travers Stakes (G1) on August 24. That speculation is partly fuelled by her success but she also cuts an impressive figure against other mares.
“She eats really well, which not all mares do,” McPeek said. “She’s fierce at the feeder 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 for her stablemate, Mysterious Dan . McPeek brought the Kentucky Derby (G1) winner from New York to Kentucky earlier this week and said on Sunday that he would continue to monitor the 3-year-old colt. Gold money before deciding on future plans.
McPeek said he would take this classic win lightly in the hope of a productive season for the four-year-old.
“There’s nothing wrong with him,” McPeek said. “We’ve been back for a while and have no plans to move forward. We’re going to be gentle with him until he’s ready. We want to make sure he’s a good old horse.”
Mystik Dan is owned by Four G Racing, Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby III and Valley View Farm.
With Mystik Dan likely to miss the Travers Stakes, McPeek laughed off the possibility of Thorpedo Anna running in the Mid-Summer Derby.
“It’s too early to talk about that,” he said.
Item: American Oaks Training Club (G1)
Saratoga Race TrackSaturday, July 20, 2024, Race 11
- Class I
- 1 1/8 minutes
- Dust
- $500,000
- 3 year old mare
- 6:17 PM (local time)
