Top 3-Year-Old Filly Thorpedo Anna Preps for Historic Travers Bid
Multiple Grade 1-winner Thorpedo Anna continued her preparations at Saratoga on Friday, August 2nd, as the talented filly sets her sights on a historic run in the prestigious Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes on August 24th.
Trained by the accomplished Kenny McPeek, the daughter of Fast Anna went through a “happy half-mile” workout on the Oklahoma dirt training track at 5:30 am EDT, with regular exercise rider Danny Ramsey in the irons. Thorpedo Anna galloped strongly through the dense morning fog, disappearing from view before reemerging to keep a nice stride through the wire. Due to the heavy fog, an official time could not be recorded for the workout.
“It was a nice and easy half-mile, nothing fancy,” said McPeek. “All I could see was her coming up to the wire and out, but it was all good. We’re ducking rain drops since tomorrow, it’s supposed to pour. I didn’t want to work her over a sloppy track. We just let her feel good and let her do what she feels like doing.”
The Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner has already claimed two Grade 1 victories against her own sex at Saratoga, taking the Acorn on June 7 and the Coaching Club American Oaks on July 20. Now, the talented bay filly will take on the best of the male division in the 1 1/8-mile Travers Stakes, aiming to become the first filly since Lady Rotha in 1915 to win the prestigious race.
McPeek, who famously trained Swiss Skydiver to a Preakness Stakes triumph against the boys in 2020, expressed his excitement about Thorpedo Anna’s historic bid.
“I don’t think she’s challenged by the fillies; she’s overmatching them. It’s fun, and I think back to horses like Genuine Risk, Winning Colors, Rags to Riches, Rachel Alexandra and Swiss Skydiver who all beat colts, and none of them tried it in the Travers. Why not her? If it’s ever going to happen, it could happen with her.”
Owned by Nader Alaali, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks and Magdalena Racing, Thorpedo Anna has garnered a strong following both at the racetrack and on social media platforms as she prepares for her Travers challenge. To allow fans a closer look at the filly’s training routine, McPeek has made an open invitation for the public to come watch her daily workouts on the Oklahoma track, starting this Wednesday.
“I think sharing a good horse with people is fun. For me, when people come around, it brings me energy and it’s good for the game,” said McPeek. “There’s no sense in hiding any of the superstars. Let’s show them off.”
Thorpedo Anna’s historic bid in the Travers Stakes on August 24th is sure to capture the attention of the entire horse racing world.
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