Saratoga Notebook: McPeek Never Lost Faith In Thorpedo Anna

[Wandering Eyes]

SARATOGA SPRINGS – Next Wednesday, 2024 Horse of the Year & 'TDN Rising Star' Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) is expected to be in Saratoga. Trainer Kenny McPeek said she will ship to the Spa from Kentucky along with Mystik Dan (Goldencents), last year's GI Kentucky Derby winner.

Thorpedo Anna is coming off a three-length win in the GII, $500,000 Fleur de Lis Stakes at Churchill Downs last Saturday.

“She is fine, she is like a rocket ship,” McPeek said by phone from Kentucky Thursday. “She loves her work; she loves what she does.”

Fans of the popular 4-year-old filly may have breathed a collective sigh of relief after the Fleur de Lis. That's because in her previous start, Churchill's GI La Troienne Stakes, Thorpedo Anna finished seventh–and last.

It was the first time in her 14-race career that Thorpedo Anna did not finish first (11 wins) or second.

McPeek wasn't disappointed in the La Troienne result; he was enraged.

Thorpedo Anna was bumped hard, squeezed and bounced around like a ping pong ball while between horses going into the first turn and was basically eliminated.

Ken McPeek | Tod Marks

“If you are a basketball fan, that was a flagrant 2 [foul],” McPeek said. “They mugged her. The notion that (Thorpedo Anna) wasn't right or ready is ridiculous. That was the only way they were going to beat her. I am actually still mad about it. She was locked and loaded and ready to win. I don't know if those tactics were accidental or intentional, but she should not have a mark on her race record because of that. It is what it is.”

After the La Troienne, there were whispers that Thorpedo Anna had regressed, that she wasn't the same horse as last year. McPeek didn't buy it

“She is ready to go, same as last year,” he said. “Nothing has changed. She is a consummate professional. She does everything you ask her to do every day. She loves to work, she loves to eat, she loves to run. She wants to be the first one on the track every morning and is still the sweetest, kindest horse to be around.”

McPeek said Thorpedo Anna, owned by Brookdale Racing Ic., Mark Edwards, breeder Judy Hicks and Magdalena Racing (Sherri McPeek) will target the $500,000 GI Personal Ensign at Saratoga Aug. 23 and the $650,000 GI Juddmonte Spinster Stakes at Keeneland Oct. 5.

If all goes well in those two races, things could get interesting.

“Let's just say if she romps home in those two, you can make a case to entertain the [GI Breeders' Cup] Classic,” McPeek said. “She steps up to her competition. Anyone who says she doesn't fit … she has beaten Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) and she gave Fierceness (City of Light) all he could handle. I don't have to make any of those decisions for a very long time.”

Thorpedo Anna was second in last year's GI DK Travers Stakes, beaten a head by 'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness. Sierra Leone, also a 'Rising Star' who would go on to win the 2024 Classic, was third in the Midsummer Derby.

McPeek also said he is not ruling out running Thorpedo Anna next season.

While Thorpedo Anna is being pointed to a Saratoga race, Mystik Dan's name will likely not be seen in the entry box. He is coming off a fourth-place finish in the GI Stephen Foster Stakes last Saturday after winning the GIII Blame Stakes at Churchill May 31.

“I'm not planning on running him again until September,” McPeek said. “I don't see him running at Saratoga at this point. His presence will be felt up there training.”

 

3-Year-Old Filly Championship On Casse's Radar For Nitrogen

The overwhelming favorite for Saturday's $500,000 GI Belmont Oaks Invitational is Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro), who is 4-5 on the morning line.

The 3-year-old filly will be chasing her sixth win in as many starts this season for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse and owner D.J. Stable LLC. The classy grass runner is 3-for-3 on the lawn this year and Casse has a lofty goal for Nitrogen.

Providing everything goes well in the 1 1/8-mile Belmont Oaks on the Mellon Turf course, the next stop for Nitrogen would be the prestigious $600,000 GI Alabama Stakes on the dirt at Saratoga Aug. 16.

Nitogen works the slop with ease at the Spa | Sarah Andrew

“We still have our eyes set on being champion 3-year-old filly,” Casse said outside his barn on the Oklahoma Training Track. “As long as she runs respectable [in the Belmont Oaks] and comes out in good order, I think we will try the Alabama.”

Nitrogen was last seen burying two others in the GIII Wonder Again Stakes, which was taken off the grass on Belmont Stakes Day at Saratoga last month. Nitrogen and jockey Jose Ortiz romped to a 17-length win.

“I realize she beat two other fillies that had no dirt form.” Casse said. “But it was so how fast she ran and with the ease she ran and Josse said she just skipped over the dirt.”

In her other four wins this year, Nitrogen won the GII Edgewood Stakes at Churchill Downs, the GII Appalachian Stakes at Keeneland, the GIII Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay and the listed Ginger Brew Stakes at Gulfstream Park. All of those were on the grass and were by a combined 6 3/4 lengths.

If Nitrogen does make it to the Alabama, she could be facing stablemate La Cara (Street Sense), who upset previously unbeaten Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro) on a sloppy (sealed) track in the GI DK Horse Acorn Stakes at Saratoga June 6.

Casse is targeting La Cara to the $500,000 GI Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga July 19.

“La Cara still has a shot to be champion 3-year-old filly,” Casse said. “If she runs well in the Oaks, she'll probably end up in the Alabama as well.”

Running two top fillies against each other won't cause any worry for Casse.

“I never worry about that,” Casse said. “Two different owners, two different running styles. I never, ever let that be a factor.”

 

McCarthy In No Hurry To Decide Where Journalism Will Run Next

After a hearty spring campaign that saw him as the only horse to run in all three Triple Crown races, Journalism (Curlin) got back to work on Sunday with his first work since the GI Belmont Stakes. That being said, trainer Michael McCarthy is in no hurry to figure out where or when Journalism will run next.

“I'm not even sure when he is going to work back,” McCarthy said by phone from California. “He might work this weekend; we might wait a few days. He had three hard races in five weeks.”

Journalism working for Belmont in early June | Sarah Andrew

Journalism, owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables Five, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, went off as the favorite in all three Triple Crown races.

He finished second in the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont Stakes behind Sovereignty (Into Mischief) and won the GI Preakness Stakes.

Journalism worked four furlongs in 47.80 (19/109) at Santa Anita on Sunday.

“Went very well,” McCarthy said. Pleased with what I saw. I just wanted him to stretch his legs. I am going to kind of play it by ear.”

McCarthy would not commit to having Journalism return in the $500,000 GII Jim Dandy at Saratoga July 26 of the $1 million GI Haskell Stakes at Monmouth July 19.

“I am going to let the horse tell me when he's ready,” McCarthy said. “We have nothing on the table at this time. We are going to keep all our options open.”

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