Travers: Thorpedo Anna tops handful of workers
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - With the threat of inclement weather creating the likelihood of a wet track in Saratoga all weekend, trainer Kenny McPeek called an audible and decided to move up a workout from Saturday to Thursday for the 3-year-old filly Thorpedo Anna.
After watching the three-time Grade 1 stakes winner breeze five furlongs in 59.40 seconds under exercise rider Danny Ramsey over the Oklahoma training track, McPeek’s confidence in Thorpedo Anna swelled as she prepares to take on the boys in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes on Aug 24.
“She worked phenomenal,” McPeek said. “Danny didn’t move on her, her energy level was great coming out of the workout. They better have their running shoes on.
“I go back to my [Kentucky] Oaks quote,” McPeek added. “They better bring a bear because I’m bringing a grizzly.”
That’s exactly what McPeek said before Thorpedo Anna won the Kentucky Oaks by 4 1/4 lengths on May 3. She has since followed that up with a 5 1/2-length score in the Grade 1 Acorn and a 4 1/2-length victory in the Coaching Club American Oaks, the latter two races here at Saratoga.
Thorpedo Anna will attempt to become the first filly since Lady Rotha in 1915 to win the Travers. Only four fillies have tried since, the last being Wonder Gadot who finished last of 10 in 2018.
Thorpedo Anna was one of five expected Travers starters to put in workouts Thursday morning over fast, dry surfaces.
Dornoch, the Belmont Stakes and Haskell, winner worked a half-mile in 47.17 seconds over the main track, going out five furlongs in 1:00.26 and six furlongs in 1:14.13. He worked with an unraced 2-year-old named Rookie Card, Dornoch pulling away on the clubhouse turn.
“He was walking, that’s what it looked like,” trainer Danny Gargan said. “There for a minute, I thought he was going to work too slow, he wasn’t doing nothing. Visually, it was pretty impressive. When I looked at my watch, I was like ‘oh [shoot].’ We were shooting for 48, I think the track’s a little fast so 47.17 is basically what we thought we’d get.”
Gargan said he was always scheduled to work Dornoch on Thursday. It was the first of two scheduled breezes Gargan has planned for Dornoch between the Haskell and Travers.
Fierceness, coming off a victory in the Jim Dandy here on July 27, worked four furlongs in 49.59 seconds over the main track in company with the Grade 3 turf-stakes-winning mare Surprisingly.
“I wanted to go in 49 and he went in 49 and a couple, he was traveling well, well in hand,” Pletcher said.
Pletcher said he’s a little bit surprised how well Fierceness has taken his race in the Jim Dandy and is feeling more confident about the decision to run back in four weeks in the Travers.
“He’s come out of the race great, his appetite’s been super, his energy level’s been good, he’s giving us all the right indications that he’s come out of it very well,” Pletcher said. “I was happy to get this in before the rain.”
Unmatched Wisdom, undefeated winner of the Curlin Stakes, worked a half-mile in 49 seconds over the main track in company with the 3-year-old maiden Commander of Truth.
“He breezed well, he breezed much better this week,” trainer Chad Brown said. “Last week, he did a little maintenance work, it was okay but it was a little off what he normally is, which is an excellent work horse. This week he worked very well, I think we’re definitely on track here.”
Brown confirmed that Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride Unmatched Wisdom as Flavien Prat, who had been aboard the horse for all three of his wins, will stick with Sierra Leone, who he rode to a third in the Belmont Stakes and a runner-up finish in the Jim Dandy.
Brown said that Sierra Leone could work on Sunday, weather permitting.
Corporate Power, second in the Curlin, worked three furlongs in 38.68 over the Oklahoma training track.
Batten Down, third in the Jim Dandy, worked a half-mile in 48 Wednesday over Oklahoma training track.
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