Betting With, and Against, Thorpedo Anna in the Coaching Club

The exquisite #3 Thorpedo Anna (1-2) is an obvious standout in Saturday’s $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Saratoga. Trained by Kenny McPeek, the once-beaten superstar has been sensational in three outings in 2024, with dominant tallies in the Fantasy S. (G2), Kentucky Oaks (G1), and Acorn S. (G1) in succession. And she has improved her Brisnet Speed number on each occasion, too. 

Thorpedo Anna – With

$40 trifecta 3 with 1 with 4 ($40)

Thorpedo Anna – Against

$30 win #1 Candied ($30)

$2 trifecta 1,4 with 1,3,4 with 1,3,4 ($8)

Thorpedo Anna, by Fast Anna, displayed an affinity for The Spa main strip in her latest eye-popping performance when decimating a very good field, and it’s possible that we have not seen the best of her yet. In this affair, she is arguably the quickest horse in the cast and I wouldn’t be surprised if regular pilot Brian Hernandez, Jr. put her on the lead early on. 

For those looking to upend the heavy choice, conditioner Todd Pletcher has the two most logical upset contenders in the affair. #1 Candied (5-2) looked the part in her Lady’s Secret romp at Monmouth Park most recently, and her numbers back up how visually impressive she appeared. By Candy Ride, the Grade 1 heroine was a sprint debut winner in her lone prior try on the grounds, and she has run well in each try to date while facing top company. 

Candied ran what I thought was a sneaky-good fourth when making a big middle move and flattening out late in the Ashland S. (G1) behind a soft pace in her 2024 bow, and she is lightly raced enough to expect further improvement this campaign. The move to nine furlongs is surely to her benefit, as is having the rail post with which to work. Manny Franco picks up the mount. 

Ashland S. (G1) queen #4 Leslie’s Rose (5-1) was no match for Thorpedo Anna in the Acorn when a clear second and has to be considered as an alternative. The Into Mischief filly hasn’t moved forward off of her win at Keeneland in my opinion, but the sophomore is obviously quite talented and wouldn’t be a surprise if the favorite fails to fire for some reason. John Velazquez has the mount.