Reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna was out on the Oklahoma Training Track at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 10 to record her penultimate workout for the $500,000 Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) Aug. 23, but things did not go exactly as planned.
Under jockey Luis Rivera Jr., Thorpedo Anna broke into her five-furlong workout further behind workmate Midnight Concerto than anticipated. As Midnight Concerto eased back to wait for Thorpedo Anna, the champion shot past on the rail before her stablemate kicked back in to reengage from the outside.
Once they finally were in tandem down the stretch, Thorpedo Anna completed five furlongs in 1:01.80 while Midnight Concerto was clocked in 1:03.10. Trainer Kenny McPeek said he was looking for a "deep breath" kind of breeze, which he believes she ultimately got.
"The workmate was supposed to be four or five lengths in front," McPeek said. "But then they engaged at the three-furlong pole, so it actually worked out okay. She needed a workmate company, and she got it to the wire."
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Last seen winning the Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs June 28, McPeek backed off on Thorpedo Anna for about a week after she arrived at Saratoga a bit overheated from the van ride.
"She got really hot on the truck coming from Kentucky when we shipped her up here," McPeek said. "It was a really hot, hot, hot day. She was a little bit overheated. When she got here, we just decided to give her an extra week. It wasn't anything major."
Sunday morning's breeze marked her third at Saratoga this summer, with one more solo breeze expected Aug. 16 ahead of the Personal Ensign.
Thorpedo Anna has had plenty of success at Saratoga in the past, winning the 2024 Acorn Stakes (G1) and Coaching Club American Oaks (G1). Additionally, she ran against top colts Fierceness, Sierra Leone, and Dornoch in last year's Travers Stakes (G1), finishing a gallant second to Fierceness in a thrilling edition that shook the Saratoga grandstand.
The fanfare that followed her every move last summer in the lead-up to the Travers may be less this year, but McPeek said the filly's fanbase is still just as involved. He continues to receive daily requests to see the champion.
"Last year was different because it was a 3-year-old filly taking on the colts, so there was so much buzz about it," McPeek said. "The dynamic of that you'll never recreate. She's got tons of people that adore her."
Options Open, But McPeek Leaning Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile for Mystik Dan
Thorpedo Anna's breeze took place at 7:30 a.m. Sunday, giving a chance for McPeek to get back from Colonial Downs where 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan finished fourth Aug. 9 in his turf debut, the Arlington Million (G1T). McPeek said he thought the son of Goldencents ran a respectable race.
"We wanted to run a little bit better than that," McPeek said. "He's been a really good horse, I think he's overachieved all his life. I think it was worth the try. You don't know unless you really put them out there and try them. At the head of the lane, it looked like he was gonna win. Some good horses got past him, and we learned something. I don't think there was any shame in the effort."
With Mystik Dan coming out of the race in good order, many doors are open for McPeek to choose from for a next start. The ultimate goal is the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup, although the race is still to be determined.
McPeek said he is currently leaning toward the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), but mentioned the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) and $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) could also be in play.
"The hard part now is we have to figure out where he fits," McPeek said. "If I was going to try turf, I had to do it now instead of getting too close to the Breeders' Cup. If I want to shift him back to dirt, we can find a prep race that takes him into the Dirt Mile, that would probably be my leaning right now."
Take Charge Milady to take time off, miss Alabama
While the star 4-year-olds in the barn are marching forward to their next start, the same is not true for McPeek's top 3-year-old filly, Take Charge Milady.
Originally in discussions to run in the Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Aug. 16, McPeek decided not to enter the filly as she did not emerge from her :48.44 four-furlong work Aug. 9 to his liking. Instead, she'll get a refresher before the winter.
"Yesterday's work was okay. There's some post-workout issues," McPeek said. "She didn't eat up good, I'm not going to run her. She's gone all winter, spring, and summer. We're going to pull the plug on her and probably point her to a winter campaign."
Last seen finishing fourth in July 19 Coaching Club American Oaks, the daughter of Take Charge Indy 's spring was highlighted by a runner-up effort in the Ashland Stakes (G1) to dual grade 1 winner La Cara and a victory in the Monomoy Girl Overnight Stakes against last year's 2-year-old filly champion, Immersive.
