By Steve Sherack
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — The 'Grizzly' is gearing up for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff.
Amid a backdrop of some spectacular fall foliage, 'TDN Rising Star' Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) posted her second workout since capturing the GI Cotillion Stakes in dramatic fashion at Parx Sept. 21, breezing five furlongs in 1:02.63 (1/2) after the break over a sun-splashed Oklahoma Training Track on a delightful Saturday morning in Saratoga Springs.
Raring to go beneath regular exercise rider Danny Ramsey, the GI Kentucky Oaks heroine and painful GI Travers Stakes runner-up was hard held leaving the pole, had her ears up while awaiting her cue around the far turn, moved beautifully down the stretch without being asked and continued galloping out with terrific energy.
“I think Danny (Ramsey)'s pretty happy with her,” said Dermot Magner, assistant trainer to Ken McPeek, who is currently shopping for yearlings at the Tattersalls October Sale. “We weren't looking for anything crazy today. Next week she might have a little more serious workout. Overall, she's happy, she's doing good. Everybody is happy right now with her.”
He continued, “She just likes it here. She's in a good rhythm here. She's in the feed tub, which we like. She likes the Oklahoma track. She's a pretty simple filly. So, we try to keep it simple with her.”
⚠️ 👀 Watch THORPEDO ANNA work in New York this morning in preparation for the @BreedersCup Distaff. The @KennyMcPeek trainee has won four Grade 1 races this year! pic.twitter.com/am844qIOUr
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 12, 2024
Ramsey was all smiles in between sets back at McPeek's Barn 86 at the Oklahoma Annex.
“The two horses that started off in front of her–any time a horse is in front of her, she gets so aggressive with me,” Ramsey said. “She was saying, 'Let me go Danny. Let me go.' I said, 'No, I'm not gonna let you go. I can't let you go.' She was so great. She worked beautiful. She could've worked in :57 if I wanted her to. 1:02 is perfect on this track.”
And he's not lacking for confidence.
“I'd be shocked if she got beat in the Breeders' Cup,” Ramsey added.
Thorpedo Anna, a $40,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling graduate, is campaigned in partnership by Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks and Magdalena Racing.
Thorpedo Anna cooling out back at the @KennyMcPeek barn following her breeze pic.twitter.com/GjopkxULeR
— Steve Sherack (@SteveSherackTDN) October 12, 2024
Other potential Breeders' Cup-bound horses spotted during training hours over the Oklahoma include: the Bill Mott-trained Arthur's Ride (Tapit) (Classic) and War Like Goddess (English Channel) (F/M Turf) (breezed four furlongs in :51.66); the Todd Pletcher-trained full-brothers 'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light) (Classic) and Mentee (City of Light) (Juvenile Turf Sprint/Juvenile Turf); and the Christophe Clement-trained 'TDN Rising Star' Far Bridge (English Channel).
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