The 155th running of the $1.25 million Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday (Aug. 24), aka the “Midsummer Derby,” is considered the marquee race of the summer. A field of eight 3-year-olds was entered on Sunday. usracing.com is publishing profiles of the contenders.
Kenny McPeek is a trainer who likes challenges, so his decision to run superstar filly Thorpedo Anna against the boys in Saturday’s 1¼-mile Travers Stakes was no surprise. He scored big with the same move in the 2020 Preakness, when Swiss Skydiver upset the boys.
Thorpedo Anna would have been an overwhelming favorite in last weekend’s Alabama Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, and a victory there would have done nothing to enhance her reputation. But if she can knock off standouts Dornoch, Fierceness and Sierra Leone in Saratoga’s “Midsummer Derby,” she’ll be a contender for Horse of the Year.
Not only did her absence turn the Alabama Stakes into a very competitive race, but the result also flattered Thorpedo Anna. The narrow winner, Power Squeeze, finished first for the fifth time in her last seven starts, with her only defeats in that stretch blowout losses (combined 22¾ lengths) to Thorpedo Anna in the Kentucky Oaks and the Acorn.
The speedy daughter of Fast Anna overcame a bad start last time to dominate the Coaching Club American Oaks, leaving subsequent Alabama runner-up Candied 4½ lengths behind. It will be hard to beat fellow Grade 1 winners Dornoch, Fierceness and Sierra Leone if she doesn’t break well in the Travers.
Betting advice: Dornoch, Fierceness and Sierra Leone have posted better speed figures than Thorpedo Anna, and can she outrun the quicker Dornoch and Fierceness for the early lead? Also, as the sentimental favorite she’ll be overbet.
Post position: 1
Odds: 3-1
Jockey: Brian Hernandez. Jr.
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Owners: Nader Alaali, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks and Magdalena Racing
Career record: 7-6-1-0
Career earnings: $1,980,663
Last race: Coaching Club American Oaks (1st)
Top Equibase Speed Figure: 105
Pedigree: Fast Anna-Sataves, by Uncle Mo
Color: Dark bay
Running style: Frontrunner
Notes: Many females besides Swiss Skydiver have defeated males in major races in this century. Among them are Hall of Famers Rachel Alexandra, Zenyatta and Tepin … Thorpedo Anna worked 5 furlongs in a brisk 59.81 seconds in company with a maiden stablemate Saturday over Saratoga’s main track. “It was good, a nice, happy five-eighths and a nice gallop out,” McPeek said. “The colt she worked against is not a high-level colt, but it was enough to keep her interested.”
| 1 | Thorpedo Anna | 3-1 | Brian Hernandez | Kenny McPeek |
| 2 | Sierra Leone | 7-2 | Flavien Prat | Chad Brown. |
| 3 | Unmatched Wisdom | 8-1 | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | Chad Brown |
| 4 | Corporate Power | 15-1 | Javier Castellano | Shug McGaughey |
| 5 | Batten Down | 20-1 | Junior Alvarado | Bill Mott |
| 6 | Honor Marie | 20-1 | Tyler Gaffalione | Whit Beckman |
| 7 | Dornoch | 5-2 | Luis Saez | Danny Gargan |
| 8 | Fierceness | 3-1 | John Velazquez | Todd Pletcher |
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
