It’s been more than a century since a filly won the Travers Stakes (G1), so when Thorpedo Anna takes on the boys in the 155th edition of the “Midsummer Derby’’ on Aug. 24, there’s history on the line at storied Saratoga.
Thorpedo Anna. NYRA Photo.
Thorpedo Anna will try to become be the first filly to win the Travers since 1915
Thorpedo Anna, the nation’s top-ranked horse (male or female), has overpowered fillies in 2024 by winning all four of her races by a combined margin of 18 ¾ lengths – the Fantasy Stakes (G2), the Kentucky Oaks (G1), and the Acorn Stakes (G1) and Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Saratoga.
Trainer Kenny McPeek decided to bypass Saturday’s Alabama Stakes (G1) for fillies to take on the likes of Belmont Stakes (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1) winner Dornoch and 2-year-old champion and Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) winner Fierceness in the 1 1/8-mile Travers.
“We know it’s possible,” McPeek said. “And I think she’s good enough right now to give her a chance to do it.”
Yes. It’s been done before. The last time was 1915, and it was by disqualification. Trial By Jury finished first but was disqualified and Lady Rotha was declared the winner.
Six other fillies have won the Travers, three in a four-year span from 1865-1868. The other wins came in 1876, 1895, and 1903.
Since Lady Rotha, only four fillies have run in the Travers: Cicada finished last in 1961; Chris Evert was third in 1974; Davona Dale was fourth in 1979; and Wonder Gadot was last in 2018.
A year ago, Jena Antonucci was in the spotlight when she became the first female trainer to win a Triple Crown race (the Belmont with Arcangelo) and the second female trainer to win the Travers (Arcangelo).
Sometimes, a filly proves to be up to the task. And when it happens, the race tends to be on racing’s biggest stage. For example: In 1980 and 1988, fillies won the Kentucky Derby (G1) — Genuine Risk in ‘80 and Winning Colors in ‘88; in the 2000s, Rachel Alexandra (2009) and McPeek-trained Swiss Skydiver (2020) won the Preakness Stakes (G1); and in 2007, Rags to Riches became the first filly since 1905 to win the Belmont.
Rachel Alexandra went on to defeat males in the Haskell and the Woodward Stakes (G1).
“If she were to beat the colts in the Travers, I mean, she’s immortal,” McPeek said of Thorpedo Anna. “You’re going to read about her for another 100 years.”
TRAVERS WINNING FILLIES
MAIDEN (1865)
In the second running of the Travers, four of the seven contenders were fillies. Maiden finished first, followed by fellow fillies Oleata and Sarah K. Gilda finished fifth.
RUTHLESS (1867)
Seven weeks after winning the first running of the Belmont, this filly won the fourth running of the Travers, contested at 1 ¾ miles. Only two others from the Belmont ran against her.
THE BANSHEE (1868)
This filly topped an eight horse field, including four other fillies, in a stakes record 3:10 ¾ for 1 ¾ miles.
SULTANA (1876)
Sultana gave August Belmont his second Travers winner. Belmont was the founder of Belmont Park and also the chair of the Democratic National Committee from 1860-1872.
LIZA (1895)
Run at 1 1/8 miles for the first time (it was run at the distance four more times), Liza was the fifth filly to win.
ADA NAY (1903)
Ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Francis O’Neill, Ada Nay topped the field and earned the largest winner’s share of any fillies to win — $8,150.
LADY ROTHA (1915)
Owned by Andrew Miller, a founder of Life magazine, Lady Rotha finished second but was elevated to first following the disqualification of first-place finisher Trial By Jury. Miller-owned Roamer won the 1914 Travers.