Thorpedo Anna's work for Personal Ensign doesn't go as planned
:quality(75))
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Thorpedo Anna on Sunday had her most serious workout yet in preparation for the Grade 1 Personal Ensign on Aug. 23, but it didn’t go off as planned.
Thorpedo Anna worked five furlongs in 1:01.75 over the Oklahoma training track, but her company started too far in front of her and it kind of made the move a bit disjointed. Midnight Concerto, the workmate ridden by Danny Ramsey, started a furlong in front of Thorpedo Anna, ridden by Luis Rivera Jr., who was accompanied to the five-furlong pole by a stable pony.
Midnight Concerto wound up waiting for Thorpedo Anna, who went past Midnight Concerto at the 3 1/2-furlong pole. Thorpedo Anna then wound up waiting on Midnight Concerto, and the two joined up inside the three-furlong pole. Midnight Concerto went a length in front of Thorpedo Anna at the quarter pole, but the two were together when they turned into the lane.
Thorpedo Anna got her final quarter in 24.32 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:15.72.
“Danny got way, way, way in front of her, but then he waited on her and engaged to the wire, so it was fine,” McPeek said. “In a perfect world, we talked about being three or four lengths behind. She needed a workmate. She needed somebody to finish with and she got it. She got a good deep blow out of it, that’s what was most important.”
Sunday’s move was the third for Thorpedo Anna since she arrived in Saratoga after winning the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis by three lengths on June 28 at Churchill Downs. It was her third win from four starts this year. She also won the Grade 2 Azeri and Grade 1 Apple Blossom. Her lone defeat was a last-place finish in the Grade 1 La Troienne on May 2.
“She’s had another good summer,” McPeek said. “She’s doing everything we’ve asked her to do.”
Among the horses Thorpedo Anna is likely to face in the Personal Ensign are Raging Sea, last year’s Personal Ensign winner; Randomized, last month’s Grade 3 Molly Pitcher winner; and Leslie’s Rose, last month’s Grade 2 Shuvee Stakes winner.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.