Thorpedo Anna charges ahead in the CCA Oaks winning her third consecutive Grade 1. (Adam Coglianese/NYRA)
Could the Breeders’ Cup Classic be her crescendo?
By Laura Pugh
Yeahhh… anyone familiar with my earlier writings will likely be flabbergasted that this is even coming from my mouth, (fingers) but … taking on the boys is something that Thorpedo Anna can put on the back burner.
I am not saying this because I think she can’t beat them, think it would ruin her, or whatever other convoluted reasoning several have for being against her facing males. I just don’t think it is necessary for her to continue her legacy.
Based on speed figures, she’s a step behind the top males of her class. The problem with that argument is that she often wins very easily. She gets a five or six length lead and then hits the cruise control to maintain that advantage. I feel like this gives her figures a superficially slow-ish appearance. She also has the style many historic fillies have used when succeeding against males, and she’s also a bit of a brute when it comes to overall size. Given these factors, I definitely think that she would not just hold her own against males if she were to face them, but I do believe she would beat them.
So, if that is the case, why on earth wouldn’t I want to see her actually do it?
Thorpedo Anna with Gould’s Gold 5/8 Oklahoma side 1:01.2 pic.twitter.com/xeZuodzMFB
— Kenny McPeek (@KennyMcPeek) July 13, 2024
Firstly, I never said I didn’t want to see it. I think it would be great for the sport to see another filly rise to that level of superstardom. I just don’t see the need for her to do it.
For decades, fans have said that the sport needs a star to save it. We had Rachel Alexandra, Curlin, Zenyatta, and American Pharoah. Despite their status, none of them “saved” the sport. They brought in extra fans, yes… but with how often this sport shoots itself in the foot, it wouldn’t surprise me if most of those fans have fallen away. Whether it be due to the fact that our stars don’t stick around long enough for attachments, the atrocious marketing, or the inability to effectively clean up sport, showing a complete disregard for anything resembling transparency, the fact remains, a superstar didn’t save us then and they won’t now.
Thorpedo Anna has a shot to make history, without taking on the boys, just by going to the Alabama Stakes instead. A win in the Alabama Stakes would make her the first ever filly to sweep the re-made Triple Tiara, which consists of the Acorn Stakes, the Coaching Club American Oaks Stakes, and the Alabama. From there, she can stay in New York for the Beldame or Spinster Stakes, which would be against her elders.
From there, her connections could point her to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff or Classic.
Trainer Kenny McPeak has been boisterous about Thorpeda Anna’s abilities to say the least. Even saying that he would not be afraid to face males. The Classic would give Anna an extra few months to mature, and would make for great year end spectacle, but again, a start and potential win in the Distaff would still do plenty to add to an already impressive season.
Thorpedo Anna will continue to train daily at the Oklahoma side training track Monday through Saturday at 5:30am. She’s a creature of habit and goes early. @TheNYRA will allow fans inside early starting this Wednesday. Our stable is located at 131 Fifth Ave and she will be… https://t.co/7TnZW1Lomq
— Kenny McPeek (@KennyMcPeek) July 21, 2024
Hypothetically speaking, if Thorpedo Anna stayed with her own gender, but made three more starts, her 2024 record would stand at seven for seven, with six grade one victories in a row, while being the first in history to sweep the remade New York Triple Tiara. She would also be the first 3-year-old to capture the Breeders’ Cup Distaff since Monomoy Girl in 2018, and the first champion 3-year-old filly to conclude that season undefeated since Rachel Alexandra in 2009. If your response to that is “well she didn’t beat males, then I feel very sorry for the fact that you can’t recognize greatness.
Obviously, there is a lot of time between now and the Breeders’ Cup, and anything can happen. But as you can quite clearly see, facing and/or beating males is not the only way for Thorpedo Anna to have a historic campaign. She can make plenty of history sticking with the fillies.
