Thorpedo Anna will face just four other 3-year-old fillies as she goes in search of her third straight Grade 1 victory on Saturday in the $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga Race Course.
Half her opponents hail from the barn of trainer Todd Pletcher, an eight-time winner of the 1 1/8-mile race: Candied, speedy winner of the listed Lady’s Secret at Monmouth Park after landing on the also-eligible list for the Kentucky Oaks, and Leslie’s Rose, who bounced back from a dismal showing behind Thorpedo Anna in the Oaks to finish second by 5 ½ lengths to her in the Acorn at the Spa on June 7.
Thorpedo Anna. Coady Photo.
Oaks/Acorn winner Thorpedo Anna Returns in the CCA Oaks
“She was second best on the day, but to her credit, she ran a very good race,” said Pletcher of Leslie’s Rose. “[As for Candied], it was frustrating not to get in the Oaks with her, so it’s good to get her back on course.
“We need to move forward, and I think with both fillies we are in a position to do that,” he added. “Sometimes strange things happen in Saratoga.”
The imposing Thorpedo Anna remained at Saratoga following her victory in the Oaks, which marked her fifth victory in six career starts. Most recently, she breezed 5 furlongs in 1:01.55 on July 13, a week after she posted a bullet half-mile work in 47.66.
“She’s done great here and she goes out the first set. She’s been happy,” said trainer Ken McPeek. “She does everything we ask her. She likes her work and she’s an easy filly to be around.”
Intricate, who handed Thorpedo Anna her only loss when she won the Golden Rod (G2) last November at Churchill Downs, looks for her first win since then for trainer Brendan Walsh, while completing the field is Barbratina, winner of an optional claimer at Churchill Downs on June 1.
Post time for CCAO, race 11 of 12, is 6:17 p.m. EDT.
For those who bet horse racing online:
The picks: 1 Candied 2 Thorpedo Anna 3 Leslie’s Rose
The field for the $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1), from the rail out, with jockey, trainer, odds:
1 Candied (Manny Franco, Todd Pletcher), 5-2
2 Barbratina (Jose Alvarado, George Weaver), 20-1
3 Thorpedo Anna (Brian Hernandez, Jr., Ken McPeek), 1-2
4 Leslie’s Rose (John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher), 5-1
5 Intricate (Tyler Gaffalione, Brendan Walsh), 8-1