By Sam Turner -
The gallant Thorpedo Anna was agonisingly denied in her quest to become the first female to land Saratoga’s G1 Travers Stakes when reigning juvenile champion Fierceness narrowly prevailed following one of the stretch duels of the season.
The thrilling conclusion to the $1.25million feature saw John Velazquez, partnering Todd Pletcher’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner, withstand a brave rally from Thorpedo Anna on whom Brian Hernandez Jr produced a brave late challenge.
A head separated the duo at the line following a pulsating battle and Pletcher was relieved his colt had answered his critics.
“I’m just so happy for the horse. He’s been a little bit unjustly criticised for not winning every time,” said the Hall of Fame trainer.
“That filly is so good and she just kept closing and closing. I was just glad to see the wire.”
Thorpedo Anna was trying to become the first filly to win the 155-year-old race since Lady Rotha in 1915. She was just the fifth filly to compete since 1960.
“We’ve had a lot of fun with her, and she’s been great,” said trainer Kenny McPeek. “Everything really went to plan other than one horse in her way. She’s so special, and we’re just really proud of her.”
A BRIDGE TOO FAR FOR GODOLPHIN DUO
Godolphin duo Measured Time and Silver Knott were narrowly denied in the G1 Sword Dancer Stakes when Christophe Clement trainee Far Bridge rallied gamely late on in the hands of Joel Rosario to lift the 2,400m feature.
The winner enjoyed a trouble-free passage in front, dictating under Rosario who held enough in reserve to repel William Buick aboard multiple Dubai Carnival winner Measured Time by a length.
Silver Knott (Flavien Prat) weakened in the straight but still held on to third.
There was a top-level double on the illustrious fixture for rider Flavien Prat when Mullikin followed in the hoofprints of the likes of 2022 winner Cody’s Wish in taking Saratoga’s Forego Stakes with an impressive gate-to-wire defeat of Gun Pilot for trainer Rodolphe Brisset.
Prat completed his brace when steering the Chad Brown trainee Domestic Product to a narrow defeat of Prince Of Monaco in the H Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes.
The other Grade 1 on the card was secured by Society who ran out an impressive winner of the Ballerina Handicap for trainer Steven Asmussen and rider Tyler Gaffalione, comfortably outpointing Scylla by three-and-a-quarter lengths.
