Thorpedo Anna is by far the best in CCA Oaks

Thorpedo Anna achieved his third consecutive Class 1 victory on Saturday with a dominant victory in the $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks in Saratoga.

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After starting last under Brian Hernandez Jr., Thorpedo Anna was pushed into contention on the first turn and then took a chasing position behind pacesetter Leslie’s Rose (7-1) and John Velazquez. Entering the second turn, Thorpedo Anna easily closed in on the leader and took the lead, fended off a slight late charge from Candied at the end of the homestretch and rode to the finish as the 1-4 favorite as an easy winner.

Candied, who won the Lady’s Secret at Monmouth on June 8, finished second, while Intricate and Tyler Gaffalione took home the show honors. After split times of 24.28, 47.89 and 1:11.80, Thorpedo Anna won with a final time of 1:50.95.

The win completed a Grade 1 hat trick for Thorpedo Anna, trained by Ken McPeek. In her previous two starts, the 3-year-old Fast Anna mare won the Kentucky Oaks on May 3 and the Acorn Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on June 7.

With Barbratina out, there were no show bets. Thorpedo Anna paid $2.50 and $2.10 for the popular win, while Candied, trained by Todd Pletcher, brought in $2.50.

Next up for Thorpedo Anna could be either her first test against three-year-old colts in the Travers Stakes (G1) on August 24, or she could stay in her division and compete in the Alabama (G1) a week earlier on August 17.

“If we let them play in Alabama, that might be more of a crowning achievement,” McPeek said on Fox’s national broadcast. “It’s not a given, but how will they be, 1-4? I don’t think that’s a challenge for the players.”

“It’s a thrilling matchup against the Colts. That’s something the sport could really use. I think that would be pretty cool. I’m going to sit down and run the numbers and see how she stacks up against the Colts’ numbers. It could very well happen. We’ll see. If she does as well as she has so far, it’s possible.”

Thorpedo Anna is owned by Nader Alaali, Mark Edwards, Judy B. Hicks and Magdalena Racing. She is now 6-1-0 in seven starts.

This story is updated with on-the-ground reporting from Tom Pedulla.