Thorpedo Anna gallops a ‘happy half-mile’ ahead of Travers

Multiple Grade 1-winner and top 3-year-old filly Thorpedo Anna continues to make her preparations at Saratoga as she aims to take on the boys on Aug. 24 in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers.

Trained by Kenny McPeek, the daughter of Fast Anna went to the Oklahoma dirt training track at 5:30 a.m. EDT Friday under regular exercise pilot Danny Ramsey and proceeded to break off in a strong gallop near the half-mile marker in a dense fog.

She disappeared through the mist before resurfacing midway through the lane to keep on nicely through the wire in an effort McPeek described as a “happy half-mile.” Because of the heavy fog, an official time was not able to be recorded for the work.

“It was a nice and easy half-mile, nothing fancy,” McPeek said. “All I could see was 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 won two Grade 1s against fellow sophomore fillies over the Saratoga main track, taking the Acorn on June 7 ahead of a dazzling score in the Coaching Club American Oaks on July 20. With her dominance against her own sex clear, the next challenge for the talented bay will be to test her capabilities against the best of the male division in the 1 1/8-mile Travers.

McPeek, who trained Swiss Skydiver to a win against males in the 2020 Preakness, said it is special to chase history with a filly such as Thorpedo Anna.

“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,” said McPeek. “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 seeks to become the first filly since Lady Rotha in 1915 to win the Travers. With her historic bid, she has garnered a strong following both at the racetrack and on social media platforms.

With so many fans excited to follow the filly’s training, McPeek made an open invitation to the public to come see her train daily over the Oklahoma, and shared the following post on X on July 21:

McPeek said allowing the public to get a daily view of Thorpedo Anna’s routine is good for both his barn and for the sport as a whole.

“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.”