Trainer Kenny McPeek is confident that Kentucky Oaks winner Thorpedo Anna can close her outstanding season with a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar. The three-year-old filly has already claimed four Grade One titles this year, including her marquee win at Churchill Downs in May. She also placed second in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga, finishing between Breeders’ Cup Classic contenders Fierceness and Sierra Leone.
Fresh off a victory in the Cotillion Stakes, the daughter of Fast Anna is poised to face Brad Cox’s reigning Distaff champion, Idiomatic, in a highly anticipated showdown. McPeek is optimistic about her chances: “We’re excited about the Breeders’ Cup, and we believe she has one more big run left this season. The Distaff is a good fit for her, and we’re hopeful she can finish on a high note.”
Meanwhile, McPeek’s Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, who showed his Breeders’ Cup Classic potential with a second-place finish in the Preakness, will miss the upcoming races. After struggling in the Belmont Stakes, the son of Goldencents is being given ample time to recover. McPeek is in no hurry, focusing on Mystik Dan’s long-term development.
“There’s no rush with Mystik Dan,” McPeek said. “He’s just getting back into training at Keeneland, and we want to make sure he’s ready for a strong season next year.”