Thorpedo Anna Seeks Revenge in Personal Ensign

After thrilling fans at Saratoga Race Course last summer, Thorpedo Anna makes her grand return to the Spa Aug. 23 as she seeks revenge on several familiar rivals in the $500,000 Personal Ensign Stakes (G1). Those rivals are Randomized, Dorth Vader, and Raging Sea, who all played key roles in the 2024 Horse of the Year's lone defeat this year. With the target on Thorpedo Anna's back in the May 2 La Troienne Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs, Randomized took the opportunity to make things tight going into the clubhouse turn, shoving Thorpedo Anna into Dorth Vader. Thorpedo Anna would turn for home with an empty gas tank after the incident, fading to last of seven. Dorth Vader would wind up fourth while Randomized finished third, her Chad Brown-trained stablemate Raging Sea picking up the pieces for victory. "I think they knocked the breath out of her," trainer Kenny McPeek said of Thorpedo Anna's defeat. "(Jockey) John Velazquez said (Dorth Vader's) hind end hit her really hard in the flank. That happens; it's a toss. "That was the way they were going to beat her, and they managed to. It is what it is." Now, ready for a rematch Saturday over 1 1/8 miles, all four have seen different paths since the La Troienne. Thorpedo Anna returned with an authoritative three-length victory in the Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs June 28. A few weeks earlier, John Ropes' Dorth Vader would bounce back in the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) with an eye-catching 4 3/4-length triumph over Randomized and Raging Sea for trainer George Weaver. Randomized and Dorth Vader then met again July 19 at Monmouth Park for the Molly Pitcher Stakes (G3). Klaravich Stables' Randomized led at every point of call to secure her first victory in 13 months while Dorth Vader pressed and finished fourth. Raging Sea, who won the Personal Ensign last year, was a nonthreatening third one day prior in the Shuvee Stakes (G2) after falling too far behind early. Ultimately, those differing paths mean that a victory can place any of the four at the top of the class as the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Del Mar Nov. 1 quickly approaches. As a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series event, victory in the Personal Ensign grants the winner an automatic, fees-paid berth to the $2 million Distaff. Thorpedo Anna still stands firm in that No. 1 spot ahead of the race as the clear 6-5 morning-line favorite, Randomized being second choice at 4-1. The same scenario from the La Troienne will have a hard time unfolding this time as jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. will guide Thorpedo Anna from the far outside of the seven-horse field. Randomized, who breaks from the rail with Manny Franco, will also get immediate pace pressure directly to her outside in Miller Racing's Dazzling Move, who has used her speed to earn runner-up placings in both the Ogden Phipps and Shuvee. Whisper Hill Farm's Leslie's Rose also appears to be getting back into top form for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, ending a five-race losing skid to roll past Dazzling Move for a 3 3/4-length victory in the Shuvee. The win has her well respected on the morning line as the 9-2 third choice. Rounding out the field is Robert Rosenthal and Bradford Bernstein's Bernietakescharge, a two-time stakes winner this year who is cross-entered in the Aug. 22 Yaddo Stakes at Saratoga.