By David Blicksilver
Thorpedo Anna will look to add to an already dazzling resume when she faces four rivals in Saturday's Grade 1, $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga Race Course. Under the care of Kentucky Derby winning trainer Ken McPeek, Thorpedo Anna is a perfect 3-for-3 in2024 which includes Grade 1 wins in the Kentucky Oaks and Acorn. Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. has been aboard for all six of her starts, amassing a 6-5-1-0 record and over $1.7 million in earnings
The daughter of Fast Anna was purchased for just $40,000 by McPeek at the Fasig Tipton October Yearlings Sale in Lexington, KY. She was a debut winner last fall at Keeneland and followed that triumph with a next out Allowance score at Churchill Downs. Her only blemish came in the Grade 2 Golden Rod when she was beat by fellow race entrant Intricate by 5 1/4-lengths.
Thorpedo Anna returned off a four month layoff to win her Oaks prep, the G2 Fantasy, at Oaklawn Park. That win secured her place in the starting gate on Oaks Day and was the start of her now current three race win streak. Following her Oaks triumph, she shipped to Saratoga for the Acorn which was held at Saratoga while renovations at Belmont Park are ongoing. There she broke from the outermost post 8 and stalked the lead, and despite losing a shoe, she kicked into gear down the stretch and drew away to win by 5 1/2-lengths.
The CCA Oaks will be the smallest field Thorpedo Anna has faced to date, but it is not without talent. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will send out two runners in Candied [post 1] and Leslie’s Rose [post 4]. Candied, like Thorpedo Anna, won her first two races that included her graduation last summer at the Spa before taking the premier race for juvenile fillies atKeeneland’s fall meet. She capped off that year with a respectable third place in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. The daughter of Candy Ride returned with a fourth place in the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland before securing a trip to the winner’s circle at Monmouth Park last month. Manny Franco will be in the irons for the first time on Saturday.
Leslie’s Rose, purchased for $1,150,000 at the Keeneland Yearlings sale, was another debut winner when she won at Aqueduct Racetrack last November. She earned a spot in the Kentucky Oaks when she bested Candied and six others in the Ashland. Her next two starts have left her chasing Thorpedo Anna. A distant 13th in the Oaks preceded a game second in the Acorn. With Irad Ortiz Jr. at Monmouth to ride Mindframe in the G1 Haskell, Pletcher called fellow Hall of Famer and the Spa’s winningest jockey, John Velazquez.
From the outermost post 5 is the aforementioned Intricate. The only horse to beat Thorpedo Anna was also the last time she visited the winner’s circle. The daughter of Gun Runner hasplaced twice this year for conditioner Brendan Walsh including in a Grade 2 at Fair Grounds. Tyler Gaffalione has the call once again.
Rounding out the field is Barbratina. The filly by Catholic Boy is now under the care of George Weaver. She will make her Saratoga debut off of a first level allowance victory beneath the twin spires at Churchill Downs. Her lone off-the-board finish came in her lone graded stakes try when she finished sixth in the Gazelle at Aqueduct.
From a betting perspective the race is very difficult to find value. Thorpedo Anna will be the well-deserved, prohibitive favorite. The ML odds were set at 1-2, however, I would not be surprised to see her at 1-4 or lower. If she runs back to just 80% of what we’ve seen she is capable of it will mean the others are running for second.
Prediction: 3-4-1