American Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna could be bound for a mouthwatering clash with stablemate Mystik Dan, defending champion Sierra Leone, this year’s Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty and Saudi Cup hero Forever Young in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic should she emerge from her summer campaign undefeated.
Trainer Kenny McPeek confirmed to Idol Horse that Thorpedo Anna will likely skip a defence of the G1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff tiara she won last year and instead look to wrest the crown from the boys if she wins her next two starts in the G1 Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga and the G1 Spinster Stakes at Keeneland.
“If she’s won both those races, then I’ll run her in the Classic,” McPeek told Idol Horse. “She gets a weight allowance there, she’s going to be pretty well rested in between and I haven’t taxed her this year.
“I don’t think there’s anything to be gained by running her in the Distaff again. Of course, if she’s not at her best then the Distaff becomes the race to target, but I’d love to see her in the Classic. She’s beaten Sierra Leone before, she gave Fierceness an almighty race last year and I’d love to see her against Forever Young.”
Thorpedo Anna would be aiming to become just the second filly or mare to win the Classic after Zenyatta in 2009. She would also be attempting to become the first since Tiznow in 2001 to win the Classic as the reigning Horse of the Year.
Only one filly or mare – Elate, fourth in 2019 – has contested the Classic in the last decade. Havre de Grace, fourth in 2011, is the only other to line up in the Classic since Zenyatta’s memorable victory in 2009 and her heartbreaking defeat at her final race in 2010.
“The next two starts are both Grade 1 races and so it will be a test for her to see where she’s at,” he said. “I don’t have to make those decisions for a long time. First, we’ll point to the Personal Ensign and see how she goes there. It would be great for racing to see her in the Classic.”
Thorpedo Anna returned with two easy wins in the G2 Azeri Stakes and the G1 Apple Blossom Handicap, both at Oaklawn in McPeek’s native Arkansas. However, sent out as a short-priced favourite at her next start in the G1 La Troienne Stakes on the Kentucky Derby undercard, she faded to finish last of seven.
She did bounce back to win the G2 Fleur de Lis Stakes, also at Churchill Downs, in late June but the La Troienne is clearly still on McPeek’s mind, especially given it is the one blot in a formbook noteworthy for her consistency.
“I ran her back in 20 days after the Apple Blossom,” McPeek said. “She’d trained great and she hadn’t really been pressed but, anyway, it didn’t go right. She got mugged and it felt like everybody threw her under the bus, but she was destroyed in there and it wasn’t her but there were reasons for it. Take that out and there’s nothing much more you can ask from a filly. She’s special.”
Saratoga’s traditional summer meet is now properly underway, although they have actually been racing at the historic track in upstate New York since early June due to the redevelopment of Belmont Park. Still, the summer meet began with “opening day” on July 10 and Saratoga will host racing five days a week until Labor Day on September 1.
Those who have made the trek north will have to wait until Travers Day on August 23 to see Thorpedo Anna when she lines up in the Personal Ensign. It was that card last year that saw the filly make her only start against the boys in the G1 Travers Stakes, when she finished a head short behind Fierceness.
“She got up there last week and she’s doing great,” he said. “We’ve got plenty of time so there’s no need to rush. Saratoga is a great place to be at this time of year.”
McPeek has won 31 Grade 1 races across North America but is yet to saddle up a Breeders’ Cup Classic starter. Thorpedo Anna’s Distaff win was his first Breeders’ Cup victory with his 38th runner.
Not only could he have Thorpedo Anna in this year’s Classic but he may also have last year’s Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan in the US$7 million feature.
“He’s up at Saratoga too but he’s unlikely to run again until September,” McPeek said. “I sent both of them to Magdalena Farm in Lexington before going to New York. He’s come out well from his last race in the Stephen Foster and he’d won the race before that so he’s heading in the right direction.
“Funny enough, I met Forever Young’s owner (Susumu Fujita) at the Select Sale and he’s not too mad about last year’s Derby. He wants the rematch though so hopefully we’re all at Del Mar in November.”
Fujita confirmed that Forever Young would head to the JPN2 Nippon TV Hai at Funabashi on October 1 as his lead-up race to the Classic. The Umamusume founder is excited for the prospect of another clash against McPeek’s horses, having also beaten McPeek-trained Rattle ‘n’ Roll in the Saudi Cup.
“May the best horse win,” Fujita said. ∎
