All hail the reigning queen in her return to action Saturday at Saratoga.
Yes, Thorpedo Anna is back to headline the $500,000 Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) for older fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles.
The Personal Ensign offers a “Win and You’re In” berth into the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) on Nov. 1 at Del Mar, a race Thorpedo Anna won last year to conclude her championship season.
Thorpedo Anna needs little introduction to racing fans. The 2024 Horse of the Year is undoubtedly a first ballot Hall of Fame inductee when her racing career concludes.
A winner of 11 of 14 starts and over $5 million, Thorpedo Anna has already bagged six Grade 1 victories including last year’s Kentucky Oaks.
But the crowning moment of a brilliant career was the one that got away: last year’s Travers (G1) against the boys where Fierceness was all out at the wire to hold on by a head over Thorpedo Anna in a race for the ages at the venerable track.
This is her first appearance at the Spa since that memorable day. Now 4, Thorpedo Anna is in the middle of another stellar campaign with three wins in four starts, all stakes.
Her latest outing was a comfortable 3-length victory in the Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs. That was a solid rebound from a rare poor outing, a seventh-place finish behind Raging Sea in the La Troienne (G1) on the Kentucky Oaks undercard.
Thorpedo Anna is the 6-5 favorite in the Personal Ensign.
“She’s ultra-consistent. She loves her work, she’s very happy in Saratoga, and has been for a long time,” trainer Kenny McPeek said. “As always, she’s been a pleasure to be around. She’s doing great.”
There has been some wise-guy buzz that Thorpedo Anna isn’t the dominant force she was last year. They point to the La Troienne as a sign of possible vulnerability.
McPeek dismisses all that chatter, recycling the quote he used before last year’s Kentucky Oaks: “They better bring a bear, because I’m bringing a grizzly.”
Brian Hernandez, Jr., who has never missed a start on the filly has the return call from post 7.
Leslie’s Rose (9-2) is getting surprisingly strong support in some quarters following her easy score last month in Saratoga’s Shuvee (G2).
Frankly, that optimism seems misplaced. Thorpedo Anna easily trounced her the three times they met last year in the Kentucky Oaks, the Acorn Sakes (G1) and the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1).
The major danger to the favorite is Raging Sea (5-1), winner of this race last year and the only horse to beat Thorpedo Anna in the last six starts when she captured the La Troienne.
She hasn’t been able to sustain that form since then, finishing distant thirds in the Ogden Phipps (G1) and the Shuvee.
“It’s been disappointing – she started off the year terrific in the La Troienne, and her last two starts have been disappointing, so I’m hoping she can get back on track,” trainer Chad Brown said. “Thorpedo Anna is a tough customer, and either of my horses are going to have to run a really top race to beat her.”
Brown also saddles Randomized (4-1), winner of the 2023 Alabama (G1) at Saratoga and the front-running winner most recently of the Molly Pitcher (G3) at Monmouth Park.
Post time for the Personal Ensign is 3:45 p.m. ET
For those who bet horse racing ...
1 Randomized (Manny Franco, Chad Brown), 4-1
2 Dazzling Move (Jose Ortiz, Saffie Joseph, Jr.), 12-1
3 Raging Sea (Flavien Prat, Chad Brown), 5-1
4 Dorth Vader (John Velazquez, George Weaver), 6-1
5 Bernietakescharge (Romero Maragh, Domenick Schettino), 20-1
6 Leslie's Rose (Irad Ortiz, Jr., Todd Pletcher), 9-2
7 Thorpedo Anna (Brian Hernandez, Jr., Kenny McPeek), 6-5
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.
