It seems the only three-year-old filly that can beat Thorpedo Anna is herself. She nearly tried to on Saturday, hopping at the start and breaking last of four in the $465,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Saratoga. But even that bit of early drama wasn’t enough to prevent the star from winning in a fashion she’s done all season.
Quickly recovering from her tardy beginning, Thorpedo Anna rushed up to reach second place behind Leslie’s Rose entering the first turn. Although that rival loped along on an uncontested lead and appeared to let it out a notch rounding the far turn, Thorpedo Anna soon inhaled that leader when called upon by Brian Hernandez Jr. From there the question was by how far she would win by.
The final answer was 4 1/2 lengths, very much in line with her previous wins this season in the Fantasy (G3) by four lengths, the Kentucky Oaks (G1) by 4 3/4 lengths, and Acorn (G1) by 5 1/2 lengths. She covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.95 over a fast track and paid $2.50 as the 1-4 favorite.
“It just goes to show you how talented she is ’cause when she hopped, she came down so fast that they weren’t able to get away from her and she was able to secure that spot going into the first turn,” Hernandez said. “That made all the difference in the world because once we were able to secure that spot and force Leslie’s Rose forward a little, it made it to where my filly could just travel in a nice rhythm after that.”
Second choice Candied was a clear second, with Intricate plugging up for third after trailing most of the way. Leslie’s Rose backed out readily after losing her lead, finishing more than 15 lengths behind Thorpedo Anna.
Having all but wrapped the three-year-old filly title for 2024 and facing the prospect of continued small fields if left to compete in her own division, there will be increasing talk of Thorpedo Anna possibly facing males in her next start. Trainer Kenny McPeek is no stranger to the challenge, most notably saddling champion Swiss Skydiver to a victory in the 2020 Preakness (G1) over eventual Horse of the Year Authentic.
“I’m inclined to do that, aren’t I,” McPeek said. “If I run her in the Alabama (G1), as a wagering [prospect] it’s no fun for anybody. Nobody is going to run against her and what would she be – 1-2 or less? I like challenges.
“I’d be sticking my neck out a little bit, but I think the sport could really enjoy seeing a filly take on the colts. Whether it’s Genuine Risk or Winning Colors or Swiss [Skydiver] – I’ll look at the numbers, look at them really hard and try to make an educated decision if I think we can run with them.”
Thorpedo Anna races for Nader Alaali, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks, and Sherri McPeek. Bred in Kentucky by Hicks, she is a daughter of Fast Anna and out of Sataves, by Uncle Mo.
Thorpedo Anna has won six of seven starts and has earned more than $1.98 million. Her only loss to date was to Intricate in the Golden Rod (G2) last November by a margin that was repaid in full on Saturday, with retroactive interest.
For Thorpedo Anna, it’s full speed ahead.
Trainer Mark Casse enjoyed a banner day throughout North America on Saturday, winning the United Nations (G2) at Monmouth Park, as well as the Plate Trial and Trillium (G3) at Woodbine. At Saratoga, he was represented by another graded winner, Pounce, who rallied to land the $175,000 Lake George (G3) for three-year-old fillies by three-quarters of a length from 2-1 favorite Oversubscribed.
A retreating third after setting the pace in the Penn Oaks when last seen, Pounce reverted to off-the-pace tactics in the one-mile Lake George by jockey Dylan Davis, who counted the Lake George as the third of his four wins on the program.
“She has natural speed so I thought I would be forwardly placed on the lead or second, but I just really rode her comfortable out of the gate to get her to relax because I thought last trip she was on the engine too much, but she was able to relax,” Davis said.
Owned by Resolute Racing, Pounce covered the firm-course test in 1:35.84 and paid $13.80 as the fourth choice in a field of 10. Finishing a neck behind runner-up Oversubscribed was Vive Veuve, who was followed by pacesetter Gavea, Sweet Rebecca, De Regreso, Manama Gold, Gala Brand, Lemon Muffin, and Magic Cross.
Pounce, who also captured the Herecomesthebride (G3) at Gulfstream in early March, has now won four of seven lifetime for earnings of more than $333,000. Bred in Kentucky by Bell, Rankin, VanMeter, and Hancock, she is by Lookin at Lucky and out of Bouncy, by Twirling Candy.
