Thorpedo Anna will look to continue her domination of the three-year-old filly division on Saturday when heading a field of five in the $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Saratoga.
The daughter of Fast Anna has been virtually invincible this term, landing the Fantasy (G3), Kentucky Oaks (G1), and Acorn (G1) by a combined margin of 14 1/4 lengths. The 1 1/8-mile Acorn was the latest tour de force over the same track and distance as the CCA Oaks.
“She does everything we ask her. She likes her work and she’s an easy filly to be around,” trainer Kenny McPeek said.
Leslie’s Rose, who landed the Ashland (G1) in April, has considerable ground to make up on Thorpedo Anna. Although her 44-length defeat in the Kentucky Oaks over a sloppy track is a toss-out, Leslie’s Rose was still 5 1/2 lengths off the favorite when settling for second in the Acorn.
“The only thing we’ve seen with her is that she doesn’t like a wet track. Unfortunately, that’s what we got in the Oaks, but she rebounded well and gave us a good race in the Acorn,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “She was second best on the day, but to her credit, she ran a very good race.”
Pletcher, who has won the CCA Oaks a record eight times, also saddles Candied. Fourth as the beaten favorite in the Ashland two back, she most recently landed the Lady’s Secret S. at Monmouth Park over older fillies and mares as the odds-on choice, defeating subsequent Delaware H. (G2) heroine Honor D Lady.
The field is rounded out by Intricate, a Grade 2 winner last fall who turned in an improved effort when second in the Monomoy Girl S. at Churchill Downs last time, and the stakes-placed Barbratina.
Three-year-old fillies will also be in action over the turf on Saturday in the $175,000 Lake George (G3) at one mile. Trainer Chad Brown has won the Lake George seven times, including the last five editions, and has entered three.
Brown will rely on Oversubscribed, who captured the Wild Applause S. by more than three lengths last out, and the stakes-winning Sweet Rebecca, who failed to fire as an odds-on choice in the Wonder Again (G2) in late May. His other entry, French import Goa, is currently stuck on the also-eligible list.
“She appears to have a nice turn-of-foot. She’s settled into our program nicely and I’m excited to get her a run,” said Brown of Goa, who has competed exclusively on all-weather surfaces to date. “Will she need one run to acclimatize? Possibly, against this group, but she certainly measures up on ability based on what I’ve seen in the morning.”
Vive Veuve finished one-length third in the Wonder Again to subsequent Belmont Oaks (G1) runner-up Segesta, while Grade 3 scorers Gala Brand and Pounce have form to find off recent efforts.
“The nine furlongs in the Wonder Again was a bit too far for her – she ranged up like she was going to win the race and then flattened out a bit,” trainer Jack Sisterson said of Vive Veuve.
Making their respective grass debuts in the Lake George are Magic Cross, last seen taking an off-the-turf edition of the P.G. Johnson S. at Saratoga last summer, and UAE Oaks (G3) winner Manama Gold, a distant second in the six-furlong Jersey Girl S. in her U.S. debut.
