WW Photo

Thorpedo Anna works at Saratoga for G1 Cotillion

by NYRA Press Office

• Thorpedo Anna works at Saratoga for G1 Cotillion
• Corporate Power aims for $150K Discovery
• Skippylongstocking points to G2 Woodward
• Les Reys nets 90 BSF for Winter Memories score
• Another Cleeshay works for G1 Frizette; Epitaph points to G3 Futurity
• Jody’s Pride, Moonage Daydream work at Belmont

Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks and Magdalena Racing’s Thorpedo Anna posted her final work yesterday at Saratoga Race Course in preparation for Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Cotillion at Parx Racing.

Trained by Kenny McPeek, the multiple Grade 1-winner and clear leader of the sophomore filly division covered five furlongs in 1:00.20 over the Oklahoma dirt training track under regular exercise rider Danny Ramsey.

McPeek, who is currently at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, said the report on the filly’s work was positive.

“All accounts are that she worked super and came out super,” said McPeek. “She’s doing great at Saratoga.”

Thorpedo Anna was last seen finishing a hard-fought second to reigning Champion 2-Year-Old Colt Fierceness in the Grade 1 DraftKings Travers on August 24 at the Spa. The daughter of Fast Anna has won three Grade 1s this year in the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, DK Horse Acorn during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga, and the Coaching Club American Oaks at the Spa.

Parx will be the fifth track Thorpedo Anna has raced over, and McPeek said he expects the remarkable dark bay to rise to the occasion, as usual.

“She’s all set and will probably ship down the day before,” said McPeek. “She’s handled everything else she’s ever done, I don’t know why she wouldn’t handle that.”

Thorpedo Anna has remained at Saratoga since the Travers and has posted two works, the other being a half-mile in 50.80 seconds on September 7.

***

Corporate Power aims for $150K Discovery

Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey sent out a slew of workers over the weekend at Belmont Park including stakes-winner Corporate Power and graded stakes-placed Cugino, who both have races on the horizon at Belmont at the Big A.

Corporate Power, campaigned by Courtlandt Farms, was a last-out sixth in the 10-furlong Grade 1 DraftKings Travers on August 24 at Saratoga Race Course. The Curlin bay was previously second in his sire’s namesake race at the Spa after winning the Sir Barton in May at Pimlico Race Course.

On Saturday, Corporate Power completed his second breeze back since the Travers, covering three furlongs in 36.65 seconds. McGaughey said he will target the nine-furlong $150,000 Discovery on November 3 at Belmont at the Big A.

“He seems to be doing fine. This was his second work since the Travers. He had a good work,” said McGaughey. “I plan on running him in the Discovery in the first part of November at Aqueduct.”

Corporate Power debuted as a sophomore in January at Gulfstream Park ahead of a second-out graduation going nine furlongs there in February. In total, he boasts a 6-2-2-0 record and McGaughey said his strong campaign will continue.

“He’s been running good- not in the Travers, but in all of his other races. He seems to be fine. No sense in stopping now,” McGaughey said.

Bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, Corporate Power, out of the graded stakes winning Quality Road mare Road to Victory, was a $925,000 purchase at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

West Point Thoroughbreds and Jimmy Kahig’s sophomore colt Cugino has also made six starts this year, highlighted by a 4 1/4-length turf win in the nine-furlong Listed Audubon on June 1 at Churchill Downs. The Twirling Candy bay earned a graded placing when defeated a nose in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Transylvania in April over good Keeneland turf.

In Cugino’s last effort, he went off at odds of 3-1 in the 12-horse Grade 3 Nashville Derby on August 31 at Kentucky Downs, and faded to last going the 1 5/16 miles in the event won by Bellum Justum.

“I don’t really understand his race at Kentucky Downs,” said McGaughey. “I don’t think the distance was the problem. Last race was a cross out. I don’t know why he ran bad.”

McGaughey said that he will consider a variety of options for Cugino at the Big A, including the 11-furlong Grade 3, $500,000 Jockey Club Derby on October 5 and the nine-furlong Grade 3, $200,000 Hill Prince on November 9.

“I’ll take a look at the next race coming up, but there is also the race for 3-year-olds in the first part of November,” McGaughey said. “I’ll take a look at the [Jockey Club Derby], but I don’t know if he’ll run there.”

Cugino, out of the dual stakes-winning Kitten’s Joy mare Adorable Miss, was a $225,000 purchase at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. His older half-brother, dual graded stakes-placed Battle of Normandy, is soon to compete at Aqueduct.

West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing’s Battle of Normandy, who placed in the Grade 3 With Anticipation as a juvenile at the Spa and Grade 3 Dueling Grounds Derby last year at Kentucky Downs, is set to contest a local 1 1/16-mile optional claimer on September 20 [Race 2].

The 4-year-old City of Light bay added blinkers to begin his current campaign, finishing ninth in an off-the-turf event in April at Churchill Downs ahead of back-to-back wins in New York on the turf.

“His races have been pretty good. I think they [blinkers] have helped,” said McGaughey. “They were to get him focused, that’s all. They were to get his mind on what he is doing.”

Battle of Normandy has drawn post 5 in rein to Hall of Famer Joel Rosario. The field features Grade 1-placed Pioneering Spirit, plus group/graded stakes-winners Kubrick, Andthewinneris, and Highest Distinction, along with three-time victor Utah Beach.

***

Skippylongstocking points to G2 Woodward

Daniel Alonso’s multiple graded stakes-winning multimillionaire Skippylongstocking breezed a half-mile in 49.90 seconds Sunday over the Oklahoma dirt training track in preparation for a start in the Grade 2, $400,000 Woodward, a nine-furlong route for 3-year-olds and up on September 28 at Belmont at the Big A.

Trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr., the 5-year-old Exaggerator horse has banked in excess of $2.9 million through a 26-9-2-5 record that includes a last-out title defense in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic on August 23 at its namesake track.

“Skippy will go to the Woodward at Aqueduct. It's a good spot for him and he's doing well at Saratoga, so it's not too long of a ship,” Joseph, Jr. said. “He just seems to keep getting better. He had a good work today and for him it was just perfection. I just hope he can continue the way he is right now.”

Joseph, Jr. could also be represented in upcoming stakes action here by C2 Racing Stable and Agave Racing Stable’s Soul of an Angel, who is possible for a return to sprinting in the Grade 2, $250,000 Gallant Bloom, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up on September 29.

The 5-year-old Atreides mare was purchased privately earlier this year and won the Grade 2 Ruffian going a one-turn mile on May 4 here on debut for Joseph, Jr., easily besting next-out Grade 1 Ogden Phipps presented by Ford winner Randomized.

Soul of an Angel, who was fifth in the nine-furlong Phipps after a slow start, hit the board in subsequent outings when a close second in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Molly Pitcher in July at Monmouth Park and a distant third last out in the nine-furlong Grade 1 Personal Ensign on August 23 at the Spa.

“She is possible to cut back in the Gallant Bloom but it's not decided just yet,” Joseph, Jr. said. “We just want to get her back to one turn. She hasn't run at one turn since she won the Ruffian.”

Joseph, Jr. said Soul of an Angel worked well Saturday while covering three-eighths in 36 flat in company with Practically Dark over the Oklahoma dirt training track.

Miller Racing’s dual graded stakes-winner Spirit Wind was also on the Oklahoma tab Saturday, covering three-eighths in 35.66.

Joseph, Jr. indicated the 5-year-old Bahamian Squall mare could target the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America on October 5 at Keeneland.

C Two Racing Stable and Mathis Stable’s The Queens M G won a pair of sprint stakes over the summer at Saratoga, taking the Listed Schuylerville on July 11 at odds of 44-1 followed by a nine-length romp at much shorter odds on August 4 in the Grade 3 Adirondack.

The Thousand Words dark bay, a private purchase following a gritty debut win in April at Keeneland, finished a distant fifth last out on August 31 in the seven-furlong Grade 1 Spinaway after attending the pace over a muddy and sealed Spa track.

Joseph, Jr. said he would like to stretch the talented filly out around two turns with the 1 1/16-mile Grade 1 Alcibiades on October 4 at Keeneland a possible landing spot.

“No excuses for her as far as trip last time. The trip was perfect and she came out of it well. The slop was an unknown factor and maybe that was the cause, but time will tell,” Joseph, Jr. said. “She's probably going to go to Keeneland. I'd like to try her two turns and see how she gets on there in the Grade 1.”

Joseph, Jr. has another exciting juvenile filly by Thousands Words in Andrea, who is 2-for-2 after a pair of frontrunning romps at Gulfstream Park.

Owned by C2 Racing Stable, Kuehne Racing and Mark Corrado, Andrea drew off to win by 6 1/2-lengths sprinting 5 1/2-furlongs on July 26 and followed Saturday with a 7 3/4-length score traveling one-mile in the Hallandale Beach.

“She's a nice filly. She's progressive and really going in the right direction,” Joseph, Jr. said. “She had a nice debut and we stretched her out yesterday - which was not ideal going from 5 1/2-furlongs to a mile, but there wasn't any other options. She handled it well.”

Andrea was purchased by Joseph, Jr. for $105,000 from the OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in training where she worked in 9.4.

“She looked like she had speed and class. You never know until you get them back to the track, but since she came in she's trained well,” Joseph, Jr. said.

The conditioner said he would wait and see how she comes out of the race before considering future targets for the dark bay.

Joseph, Jr. also noted that last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic-winner White Abarrio remains in training at Saratoga and is getting closer to a breeze.

***

Les Reys nets 90 BSF for Winter Memories score

West Point Thoroughbreds, Peter Leidel and Winters Equine’s Les Reys was awarded a 90 Beyer Speed Figure for a successful North America debut in Friday’s Listed $150,000 Winter Memories, a one-mile inner turf test for sophomore fillies, at Belmont at the Big A.

Trained by Christophe Clement, the daughter of Penny’s Picnic made her first start for her conditioner after beginning her career in France with trainer Didier Guillemin. She doubled up on stakes wins after taking the June 9 Prix Volterra at Longchamp, scoring her second stakes conquest with a smart ride by Hall of Famer Joel Rosario to come from off the pace and split rivals late in the lane. The gray responded kindly when asked to make the brave move and bested determined pacesetter Ori by a half-length.

“She came back in very good shape from her race and was very impressive,” said Clement. “The plan is we’ll see how she if over the next week to 10 days and we might be able to train for a race such as the Valley View at Keeneland in the later part of October.”

Clement added the filly had flashed her talents in the mornings since arriving in his barn earlier this summer.

“She trained very well before the race and was supposed to run earlier, but got a little sick unfortunately,” Clement said. “We were very excited to see her run and she ran good.”

One day later, Clement enjoyed a productive afternoon at Laurel Park when sending out Loon Cry to win the Sensible Lady Turf Dash with Love Appeals finishing third; and Atomic Blonde to finish a game second in the All Along.

The win in the Sensible Lady marked the seventh stakes win in one month for Clement.

“I like that,” Clement said, with a smile. “They ran very well and were very competitive. Atomic Blonde finished second and then the two sprinters ran one-three in the stakes – Loon Cry was impressive. The other filly ran well too, and maybe she just moved a touch early. They came back in good shape, and we’ve got plenty of races coming up.”

Clement indicated Group 3-winner Atomic Blonde could be a candidate for the Grade 3, $200,000 Waya on October 4 at Belmont at the Big A or the Grade 3, $300,000 Dowager on October 20 at Keeneland. Loon Cry and Love Appeal could target the $135,000 Floral Park on October 12 at Belmont at the Big A.

***

Another Cleeshay works for G1 Frizette; Epitaph points to G3 Futurity

Trainer Gary Contessa will point a pair of New York-bred Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale grads to Breeders Cup “Win and You’re In” events at Belmont at the Big A with Another Cleeshay targeting the Grade 1, $400,000 Frizette [Juvenile Fillies] on October 5 and Epitaph pointing to the Grade 3, $175,000 Futurity [Juvenile Turf Sprint] on October 4.

“I look to shoot high. If you don't shoot high, you can't do amazing things,” said Contessa, who captured the Grade 1 Hopeful last year with 54-1 shot Nutella Fella.

Sean Shay’s Another Cleeshay will look to parlay a 9 1/2-length debut score on August 30 at Saratoga Race Course into a first career stakes win in the one-turn mile Frizette for juvenile fillies.

The Volatile chestnut was away a step slow under Junior Alvarado after tossing her head at the start of the 6 1/2-furlong restricted state-bred sprint but quickly made her way to the front from the inside post. She showed the way through splits of 22.66, 46.64 and 1:11.69 en route to a facile score in a final time of 1:18.34 to register a 69 Beyer.

“Usually you expect a horse that breaks like that to lose. That's why you'll never find a trainer that likes the one hole first time out,” Contessa said. “They end up standing in the gate a long time losing interest and when that break finally comes, 90 percent of the time it catches the horse off guard.

“She broke slow, broke in the air, but she's got talent,” added Contessa. “Junior knew how good she was, too. He knew she could overcome that break. The worst that could have happened is if they'd shut off the inside on her and she'd have no place to go. Luckily, the horses stayed off the rail and she was able to zip up the rail.”

Another Cleeshay, bred by 3C Stables and purchased by Contessa for $40,000, is out of the Tapit mare Hummingbird Hill - a half-sister to Grade 2-placed Fifth Avenue and stakes-placed Shoptate.

“I thought she was extremely athletic. I loved the way she moved,” said Contessa. “I'm all about analyzing the stride of a horse when I'm buying at a 2-year-old sale. I might look at a tape of a horse working 20 times before I bid on it and that's what I did with her.”

Another Cleeshay worked five-eighths in 1:03 flat Saturday over the Oklahoma dirt training track in company with maiden But Now Am Found. Contessa said the filly, who was also nominated to the state-bred Joseph A. Gimma here next week, is doing well and he has no concerns about stepping her up in class and distance.

“I can always run in a New York-bred stake, but I can't always run in a Breeders' Cup,” Contessa said. “We don't know how good she is. She won very impressively first time out. I think the mile is going to suit her, so why not take a shot?”

Epitaph, purchased by Contessa for $15,000, graduated in frontrunning fashion in his August 25 debut sprinting 5 1/2-furlongs over firm Spa turf.

The Country House gelding, with Alvarado up, showed the way through splits of 21.83 seconds, 45.99 and 57.96 en route to a one-length victory in a final time of 1:04.13.

Bred by NK Racing, Epitaph, who worked five-eighths in 1:02.50 Saturday over the Oklahoma dirt training track, was nominated to next weekend’s state-bred Bertram F. Bongard but will instead look to earn his way into the Breeders’ Cup in November at Del Mar in the six-furlong Futurity for juveniles here.

“Epitaph worked well yesterday, too,” Contessa said. “He’s another one where I really liked his sale video. I nominated him to the New York-bred race, but I think we'll go to the Futurity with him as well. He won impressively going 5 1/2-furlongs on the grass.”

***

Jody’s Pride, Moonage Daydream work at Belmont

Parkland Thoroughbreds and Sportsmen Stable’s Grade 1-placed Jody’s Pride worked Saturday over Belmont Park’s training track as she prepares for a comeback off a summer layoff, covering a half-mile in a sharp 47.21 seconds.

Trained by Jorge Abreu, the daughter of American Pharoah won the off-the-turf Listed Matron last October at Belmont at the Big A ahead of a close second to subsequent Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Just F Y I in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita Park. She returned as a sophomore to capture the Listed Busher in March at the Big A, but faltered last out when off-the-board in the Grade 1 Ashland in April at Keeneland.

Abreu said he is excited to get the filly back to the races after her freshening.

“She worked really, really well. She bled on me a little bit at Keeneland, so we decided to just give her some time off,” Abreu explained. “So far, she’s doing everything good.”

Abreu had tried to run Jody’s Pride on the turf in her first two starts, which she won despite both being moved to the main track. He added she is likely to try turf in her first start back during the Belmont at the Big A fall meet, which offers the six-furlong $150,000 Glen Cove on October 11 and the nine-furlong Grade 2, $200,000 Sands Point on October 12 for sophomore fillies on the turf.

“I think we’re going to put her on the turf,” Abreu said. “All along I wanted to, so now we’re going to see. I always liked the idea of turf, but her first two races were off the turf and she still won. I kept her on the dirt and she didn’t do anything wrong.”

Also on the Saturday tab at Belmont for Abreu was Chris Larsen’s dual stakes-winner Moonage Daydream, who was last seen winning the 1 1/16-mile state-bred Yaddo Handicap on August 25 at Saratoga in her farthest race to date. The win marked the second stakes win for the daughter of Candy Ride, who also captured the six-furlong Stewart Manor at the Big A in 2022.

Moonage Daydream worked a half-mile in 49.57 seconds in preparation for the September 26 $125,000 John Hettinger for state-bred fillies and mares going nine-furlongs on the turf at the Big A.

Abreu said the Yaddo gave him confidence in the 4-year-old’s ability to handle nine furlongs.

“She came out of it great,” said Abreu. “It was very important for us, and stretching her out was the main concern for me. She showed up really well. I think we’ll run her in the Hettinger.”

Abreu also sent out multiple graded stakes-placed New York-bred Venti Valentine in the Yaddo where she finished sixth in her turf debut. The multiple stakes-winning daughter of Firing Line is entered in the 1 1/16-mile Obeah on Wednesday at Delaware Park, which Abreu said will be used as a springboard to the $250,000 Empire Distaff on October 27 at Belmont at the Big A.

“She’s doing really well and she always shows up. I’m going to cross a line through the grass race. I only ran her there because I didn’t have anywhere else to run her,” said Abreu. “This race is more of a prep for the race in October that we’re aiming for. We’re 100 percent on target.”

Campaigned by NY Final Furlong Racing Stable and Parkland Thoroughbreds, Venti Valentine boasts six stakes wins and earnings of $893,600.