Thorpedo Anna, Book'em Danno headline Spa Breeders' Cup preps

The Travers Day program at Saratoga on Saturday features three Breeders' Cup Challenge races, with the $500,000 Personal Ensign (G1) garnering much of the pre-race day attention.

Reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna headlines the 1 1/8-mile Personal Ensign, a prep for the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Del Mar, which Thorpedo Anna won last year. After an inexplicable last-place finish in the La Troienne (G1) two back, Thorpedo Anna bounced back with a three-length triumph in the Fleur de Lis (G2) at Churchill Downs.

"I think the [La Troienne] was just a bit of what could go wrong did go wrong, but she's locked and loaded for this weekend," trainer Kenny McPeek said.

Thorpedo Anna captured the Acorn (G1) and Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) and finished a close second in the Travers (G1) in three starts over the Saratoga strip last season.

Raging Sea defeated champions Idiomatic and Soul of an Angel in last year's Personal Ensign, but was a well-beaten third in both the Ogden Phipps (G1) and Shuvee (G2) following her score in the La Troienne. Stablemate Randomized, meanwhile, enters off her best performance in more than a year, a three-length tally in the Molly Pitcher (G3).

Leslie's Rose also snapped a lengthy losing streak last time, drawing off to win the Shuvee by 3 3/4 lengths over Dazzling Move. The latter had previously run second in the Ogden Phipps to Dorth Vader, who was only fourth in the Molly Pitcher.

Book'em Danno looms the horse to beat in the $500,000 Forego (G1), a seven-furlong prep for the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1). The New Jersey-bred has already won twice at the Spa this summer, taking the True North (G3) and Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G2) while recording Brisnet Speed ratings of 104 and 112, respectively.

Defending titlist Mullikin finished a clear second to Book'em Danno in both the True North and Vanderbilt, while last-out Churchill allowance winner Most Wanted was a solid second to Fierceness in the Alysheba (G2) two back. Another hot horse in the field of 11 is Bishops Bay, who enters off back-to-back victories in the Westchester (G3) and Salvator Mile (G3).

The absence of division stalwart Ways and Means due to a recent fever has seemingly increased the competitiveness of the $500,000 Ballerina (G1), a seven-furlong prep for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1).

Hope Road, second to Kopion in a pair of starts early in the year before finishing a dull third in the Winning Colors (G3), might go favored. Zeitlos, Claret Beret, My Mane Squeeze, Mystic Lake, and Brightwork are other logical threats.