Acorn: Thorpedo Anna, Just F Y I square off a second time
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The day before the two top finishers in the Kentucky Derby meet in the $2 million Belmont Stakes, the top two finishers from the Kentucky Oaks are set for a rematch when Thorpedo Anna and Just F Y I head a field of 3-year-old fillies set to run in the Grade 1, $500,000 Acorn at Saratoga.
The Acorn, like the Belmont Stakes, has undergone a distance change due to the change of venue from Belmont Park. Unlike the Belmont Stakes, however, which has been shortened from 1 1/2 miles to 1 1/4 miles, the Acorn has been lengthened from 1 1/16 miles around one turn to 1 1/8 miles around two turns. Thus, the Acorn now has the same distance as the Kentucky Oaks.
In the Oaks, Thorpedo Anna worked her way to the front soon after the start under Brian Hernandez Jr., put away forwardly placed runners Fiona’s Magic and Ways and Means, and then ran away from Just F Y I – last year’s 2-year-old filly champion – in the stretch to win by 4 3/4 lengths.
“There wasn’t any speed to her inside and that’s why I told Brian to go on, don’t let one of those on your inside get in the way,” said Kenny McPeek, the trainer of Thorpedo Anna. “[Fiona’s Magic] looked like the only speed that could go with her but it didn’t look on paper like that horse could stay with her. I said, ‘Let her go, let her do her thing.’ ”
McPeek was impressed enough with how Thorpedo Anna came out of the Kentucky Oaks to strongly consider supplementing her to Saturday’s Belmont Stakes for a $50,000 fee. But McPeek has Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan set to run in that race.
“The boys are lucky she’s not running,” McPeek said. “I would have been so enticed to run her if I didn’t run him.”
The Acorn drew nine horses, though Becky’s Joker was expected to scratch in favor of Thursday’s $150,000 Jersey Girl Stakes at Saratoga. Therefore, six of the remaining eight Acorn runners are coming out of the Kentucky Oaks. Thorpedo Anna again looks like she should be on or close to the lead breaking from the outside post under Hernandez.
“She’s outside drawn, she can place herself wherever he wants,” McPeek said.
The Kentucky Oaks was only Thorpedo Anna’s second race of the year after she missed a month or so early in the winter due to a bruised hip.
“I still think we’ve got a couple of good races in front of her because she’s fresh,” McPeek said.
The same could be said for Just F Y I, the two-time Grade 1-winning 2-year-old filly of 2023. Just F Y I scratched from the Davona Dale on March 2 at Gulfstream Park due to a fever. She made her 3-year-old debut in the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland where she was beaten three lengths by Leslie’s Rose over a fast track.
“I never thought she was ever in position in the Ashland,” said Bill Mott, the trainer of Just F Y I. “She had a better trip in the Oaks.”
Though the track was sloppy in the Kentucky Oaks, Mott did not use that as an excuse. Just F Y I did win the Grade 1 Frizette last fall at Aqueduct over a sloppy surface.
“On that day, and on that track, that filly was better,” Mott said. “All we can do is hope to turn the tables.”
Just F Y I has fired two bullet works at Saratoga, but Mott said her training going into this race is on par with how she was training entering the Kentucky Oaks.
“She couldn’t have worked any better in Kentucky,” Mott said. “I’m pleased my filly continues to do well and I can say we’re doing as well going into this race.”
Just F Y I, who had post 12 in the Kentucky Oaks, drew post 4 for the Acorn.
Where’s My Ring and Regulatory Risk finished one-two in the Grade 3 Gazelle at Aqueduct. Regulatory Risk came back to run third, beaten 7 1/4 lengths, in the Kentucky Oaks and, according to trainer Chad Brown, “deserves the chance” to run back in this Grade 1.
Perhaps the sloppy track in Kentucky was the reason Power Squeeze (sixth), Where’s My Ring (10th), and Leslie’s Rose (13th) did not run well in the Oaks. They had each won a graded stakes in their previous start over a fast track.
There was a 90 percent chance of rain Thursday night and a 50 percent chance on Friday.
Gun Song and My Mane Squeeze are the two non-Kentucky Oaks starters in the Acorn. Gun Song is wheeling back three weeks after she won the Black-Eyed Susan at this distance by 3 1/4 lengths. Gun Song, who breaks right inside of Thorpedo Anna, does possess a little bit of speed.
My Mane Squeeze won the Grade 2 Eight Belles going seven furlongs in the slop on Oaks Day at Churchill Downs. Her lone start going two turns resulted in an eighth-place finish behind Thorpedo Anna in the Grade 2 Fantasy at Oaklawn Park. However, My Mane Squeeze was horsing in the paddock and acted up in the gate.
“I don’t know if it was the people in the infield or being in the one-hole that got her rattled,” trainer Mike Maker said. “She deserves the chance.”
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The Acorn goes as the last of 12 races – and four stakes – on a card that begins at 12:20 p.m.
Several two-day wagers
The Acorn is the first leg of a two-day, all-dirt pick six wager that has a $1 minimum and a 15 percent takeout.
The Acorn links to Saturday’s Grade 2 True North, Grade 2 Suburban, Grade 1 Woody Stephens, Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap, and the Belmont Stakes.
There is also an all-turf, two-day pick five with a 50-cent base and 15 percent takeout. That wager links Friday’s Grade 1 Just a Game and Grade 1 New York Stakes with Saturday’s Grade 3 Poker, Grade 1 Jaipur, and the Grade 1 Manhattan.
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