McPeek, Thorpedo Anna Swing For the Fences In the Travers

When 'TDN Rising Star' Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) enters the gate for Saturday's $1.25-million GI Travers Stakes at Saratoga, it'll be more than a sporting gesture on the part of the ownership group and trainer Ken McPeek.

The conditioner is rolling the dice against a field that includes three other Grade I winners–an oft-brilliant, but sometimes unpredictable reigning Eclipse Award champion, a Classic winner over the course and distance and a seven-figure yearling whose full potential has yet to be realized.

Sure, Thorpedo Anna could have faced her peers in last weekend's GI Alabama Stakes, but having proved herself several lengths superior to that bunch in races like the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks and GI Acorn Stakes and GI CCA Oaks, there was little about a win in that event–historic though it is–that was going to enhance her CV.

The Travers entered the discussion, and McPeek announced to a FOX audience his intention to give his filly the opportunity to strut her stuff against the opposite sex.

Tactics will be interesting from the inside draw, but she is in receipt of five pounds from the boys, and though the task is daunting by definition, McPeek–who won the 2012 Travers with the dead-heating Golden Ticket (Speightstown)–doesn't come off as the least bit intimidated.

“I think if we had run in the Alabama, very good chance we would have won there,” McPeek told national media gathered for an NTRA teleconference earlier in the week. “But it's also kind of beaten the point that, 'OK, she's a great 3-year-old filly, but the fact that we get a weight break and she's here, and she's doing well, and I'm not overly intimidated by this group of colts. So at this point, we're here, and it's good chance to find out how good or great she could be.”

'Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light) will look to become the first Todd Pletcher-trained Travers winner since Stay Thirsty won for Fierceness owner Mike Repole in 2011. As always, the question is: which version of Fierceness will show up on the day? The one that aired in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile and GI Curlin Florida Derby could win this by daylight, but his third at 1-5 in the GIII Holy Bull Stakes and 15th as the favorite in the GI Kentucky Derby won't do on Saturday. And off a 'good' win in the GII Jim Dandy Stakes last time, is another poor effort in the offing and as one of the top two betting choices at that?

“We contemplated running in the Belmont but felt like Fierceness was little tired, lost a little weight, wasn't quite training like he normally does,” Pletcher said. “So [we] decided to freshen him up, and I think it paid dividends with a with a big performance in the Jim Dandy against the quality field, and put the derby experience behind us. And I love the way he's been training since then, so hopefully continues to move forward in the Travers.”

The field's third 'TDN Rising Star' is Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), whose trainer Chad Brown would like to win this race as much–if not more–than any other. A colt that still gives the impression that he is an unfinished item, the $2.3-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga topper from two summers ago ran well–just not well enough–in the Derby and in the Belmont and was runner-up to Fierceness in the Jim Dandy.

Those that view the glass as half-empty will say he was up to his old tricks and that he's never going to get over the hump.  Those with a more optimistic outlook will argue that it's at least possible he turned a corner in terms of his professionalism and that a truly run race over a Classic distance could level the playing field.

“Hopefully a good pace develops in front of him, and he can navigate a clean trip without getting stopped and come with his late run,” said Brown. “And hopefully at a mile and a mile and a quarter, it's good enough to get there in time.”

Brown also saddles the progressive 'TDN Rising Star' Unmatched Wisdom (Cairo Prince), who makes his graded stakes debut Saturday off a front-running victory in the restricted Curlin Stakes July 19.

Were there such a thing as an 'honorary' Rising Star, that would certainly be awarded to Dornoch (Good Magic). The full-brother to 2023 Derby winner Mage is perhaps the most blue-collar of Saturday's top chances, but he's clawed and scraped his way to wins in the GI Belmont Stakes and GI Haskell Stakes and he's a nickel on the dollar to battle every step of the way in the Travers.

“Well, I mean, it's like living a dream,” trainer Danny Gargan said in the teleconference. “It's hard to win three Grade Is in a row. He's doing really well, but it's a tough feat. He's been fighting hard these last couple races. We just hope he shows up and shows that fight again.

The Travers field is completed by Curlin runner-up Corporate Power (Curlin); Batten Down (Tapit), winner of the GIII Ohio Derby and third in the Jim Dandy; and Grade II-winning juvenile Honor Marie (Honor Code), who adds blinkers off a fourth in the Belmont.

Time' Is Of the Essence in Sword Dancer

At one point over the last few months, it appeared that 2022 GI Breeders' Cup Turf hero Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) had the GI Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes on his agenda. While the 6-year-old is targeting a campaign towards a return trip to Hong Kong in December, his talented younger half-brother Measured Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is here in his stead and should take plenty of beating.

The homebred is batting .750 over the course of his eight-race career to date, having posted convincing wins in the G2 Al Rashidiya Stakes and G1 Jebel Hatta Stakes in Dubai over the winter. Fourth, but beaten just over a length in a hot and subsequently productive renewal of the G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan Mar. 30, the bay offered relative value at better than 3-1 in the GI Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes over this course June 8 and he sat handy to a modest pace before storming home to score by two lengths. Immediately behind was stablemate Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who returned to post a facile success in the GI Arlington Million on Aug. 11.

Measured Time | Sarah Andrew

Another stable companion, namely Silver Knott (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), has been made the even-money favorite in the Sword Dancer and seems to like the American variety of racing. Outside the top three just once from nine starts in this country, the gelding is perfect in his three runs this term, including an all-the-way victory in the GII Bowling Green Stakes at this venue July 28, where he had the comebacking Soldier Rising (GB) (Frankel {GB}) 2 1/2 lengths back in second.

The Sword Dancer serves as a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for this year's Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar Nov. 2.

'Danno' Looks To Repeat the Dose in Jerkens

No one could have–or should have–taken issue with the connections of Book'em Danno (Bucchero) had they opted to run for the same pot against a dramatically easier field at Charles Town Friday evening instead of Saturday's GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes. But after some deliberation, trainer Derek Ryan ships into the Spa for the second time in three months, looking for his charge to add to his sensational success in the GI Woody Stephens Stakes on the Belmont undercard June 8.

On that occasion, the New Jersey-bred gelding sat reasonably close to a hot pace and made an early bid for the lead. In front by a space with just a furlong to go, the dark bay held sway to take it by a half-length over 'TDN Rising Star' Prince of Monaco (Speightstown). Book'em Danno exits a hard-fought victory over the re-opposing Little Ni (Mohaymen) in the July 19 Jersey Shore Stakes at Monmouth. The latter has since been sold and goes out for Mark Casse on Saturday.

It can be argued that Prince of Monaco lost the Stephens at the break, when he was pinched back and bumped, and he nearly bridged a 14-length deficit nevertheless. He makes the cross-country trip again, but will have to deal with a new rider–albeit a Hall of Famer–in the form of John Velazquez.

Flavien Prat forced that decision by opting to stick with Klaravich Stable's Domestic Product, whose sire validated 2-1 favoritism in the 2017 Jerkens. The Klaravich homebred won this year's GIII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, albeit with a very modest speed figure, and was a well-beaten second in the Listed Pegasus Stakes after finishing 13th in the Derby. He cut back to one turn for his latest and responded with a 7 1/2-length romp in the GIII Dwyer Stakes going the one-turn mile at Aqueduct July 6.

Irad Ortiz, Jr. boldly deserts Book'em Danno in favor of the lightly raced 'TDN Rising Star' Speak Easy (Constitution). Sidelined off a 1 3/4-length debut score at Gulfstream Jan. 27, he returned with a handy 2 1/4-length allowance success July 27. WinStar Farm and Siena Farm are also represented by the rail-drawn World Record (Gun Runner), who set lively fractions en route to a 6 3/4-length tally over Jefferson Street (Street Sense) in the GII Amsterdam Stakes July 26.

Vahva, Prima In The Ballerina

Potentially one of the shortest-priced favorites on the Travers card could be Vahva (Gun Runner), who is at the top of the female sprint division. Trainer Cherie DeVaux has the 4-year-old firing on all cylinders after the filly won the GI Derby City Distaff and the GIII Chicago Stakes–both at Churchill Downs. Her ability to lay just off the speed makes her exceedingly dangerous when the stretch arrives.

Standing in her way are a pair of Juddmonte homebreds in 'TDN Rising Star' Scylla (Tapit) and Accede (Into Mischief). The former, trained by Bill Mott, won the GII Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis Stakes by a neck under the Twin Spires June 29 before finishing runner-up behind Adare Manor (Uncle Mo) in the GI Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar Aug. 3.

As for Accede, the Chad Brown trainee won the GII Bed o' Roses Stakes during the Belmont at the Big A meet June 15 and was the runner-up in the GII Honorable Miss Stakes at the Spa July 24.

Society (Gun Runner) has a top level win to her credit, but it came almost two years ago at Parx in the GI Cotillion Stakes. Trained by Steve Asmussen, the 5-year-old ran third in the Chicago in her lone 2024 start. —J. N. Campbell

Vahva | Sarah Andrew

The Class Climber

In the GI Forego Stakes, Mullikin (Violence) was made the 8-5 morning-line favorite by David Aragona. The colt earned that nod after he cleared the allowance ranks at Keeneland in April, won an optional claimer at Churchill Downs in early June and last out took home his first graded win in the GII John A. Nerud Stakes at Saratoga July 6. Not only is the 4-year-old in search of his first Grade I, but so is his conditioner, Rodolphe Brisset.

“We are not scared of taking a shot, obviously it is a little bit different when you lead one over there at 8-5, but for us it doesn't change anything,” said Brisset. “The routine is going to be the same. We know how to handle the pressure. I have been around those good horses for a long time. That is the good part of it.”

Up to the task of playing spoiler are a bevy of challengers including the Three Chimneys-owned and Steve Asmussen trained Gun Pilot (Gun Runner). The colt won the GI Churchill Downs Stakes on the Derby undercard, but finished third in the GII True North Stakes at the Spa June 8. The winner was Baby Yoda (Prospective), who returns in the Forego after finishing fourth over the same surface in the GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap July 27.

Wathnan Racing's Cagliostro (Upstart) rolls into town off a strong performance in the one-mile Hanshin Stakes in Louisville June 30. The colt trained by Cherie DeVaux is used to facing older company and the 4-year-old seems well-suited to one-turn races. —J. N. Campbell

Pat O'Brien A Jumping Off Point For 'Buscador'

Originally penciled in for a comeback appearance in the GII San Diego Handicap, reigning G1 Saudi Cup upsetter Senor Buscador (Mineshaft) begins a two-race prep towards a return engagement in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic in Saturday's GII Pat O'Brien Stakes at Del Mar.

It will be a second appearance in the race for the 6-year-old, who–in an odd twist of fate–was third to Laurel River (Into Mischief) in the 2022 renewal, yes, that Laurel River who beat Senor Buscador nine lengths into third in the G1 Dubai World Cup in his most recent trip to the races Mar. 30.

While the O'Brien is clearly a means to an end for Senor Buscador, it is anything but that for Cal-bred sensation The Chosen Vron (Vronsky), who looks to make it seven consecutive victories. Only fifth in that 2022 renewal, the chestnut filled that spot in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, snapping an eight-race winning streak. Since then, the closest he has come to not getting his picture taken was three back when besting Happy Jack (Oxbow) by three-parts of a length in the Apr. 27 Kona Gold Stakes at Santa Anita. He's already posted a victory at the current meet, a successful defense of his title in the GI Bing Crosby Stakes July 27.