SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Ken McPeek said he won’t keep the racing world in suspense too long about whether the fabulous filly Thorpedo Anna will take on the boys in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes on Aug. 24, but there are still a few things to consider before making a final decision. First and foremost is the condition of the filly. Other than a nick on a hind leg that likely occurred when she lunged at the start and hit the side of the gate, Thorpedo Anna has appeared to come out of her dominant victory in Saturday’s Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks in good order. Second, McPeek wants to evaluate the relevant speed figures on those who figure to run in the Travers, including the possible contenders that emerge from this Saturday’s Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga. That field, drawn Sunday, includes Grade 1 winners Fierceness, Seize the Grey and Sierra Leone, as well as recent Ohio Derby one-two finishers Batten Down and Gould’s Gold - the latter trained by McPeek - and recent nine-length maiden winner and California shipper Pony Express. Already considered definite or likely for the Travers are Belmont Stakes and Haskell Stakes one-two finishers Dornoch and Mindframe; Curlin Stakes one-two finishers Unmatched Wisdom and Corporate Power, and Belmont Stakes fourth-place finisher Honor Marie. “We’ll look at some of the numbers, wait until the other side of the Jim Dandy and we’ll look at all options,” McPeek said. “I’m inclined to give more direction early on this than later. I’m not going to drag it out.” :: Gain a competitive edge at Saratoga with DRF's premier handicapping data — purchase our meet packages today and bet with confidence. McPeek did say that running Thorpedo Anna in the Travers would be better for racing than if he ran her in the Alabama, a race that with her presence figures to be a small and unbettable event. “The upside of the Travers is we’d be running for twice the money and attempting history,” said McPeek, a reference to the fact the last filly to win the Travers was Lady Rotha in 1915. “I think it’d be good for the game, it would be a very interesting race, so we’ll see. We’re going to look at the numbers, make sure she’s come out good and contemplate it a bit.” McPeek said Thorpedo Anna was interested only in her dinner when she got back to the barn after the race. “She crossed the road on Fifth Avenue, she stepped foot into our barn area and started screaming for her feed,” McPeek said. “She said ‘You’re supposed to feed me at 4:30, it’s almost 7, what’s the problem?’ “We washed her legs off, she went into the stall, and went straight to the back corner to get alfalfa and hay. She buried her head into the hay, wouldn’t come to the front to visit with anybody. Somebody went to feed her peppermints, she wanted nothing to do with it.” Thorpedo Anna was as dismissive of those peppermints as she has been of her competition. She has won her four starts this year - the Fantasy, Kentucky Oaks, Acorn and Coaching Club - by a combined 18 3/4 lengths. She won the Coaching Club by 4 1/2 lengths despite breaking poorly. Thorpedo Anna earned a 95 Beyer Speed Figure. The Travers or the Alabama means Thorpedo Anna would be making her first start at 1 1/4 miles. “I think she’ll be even better at a mile and a quarter,” McPeek said Sunday. “It’ll be more advantage to her.” In the Coaching Club, trainer Todd Pletcher sent out both Candied and Leslie’s Rose, who finished second and fourth, respectively. Pletcher said Candied would be pointed to the Alabama on Aug. 17 regardless of what race Thorpedo Anna is running. “We wouldn’t be excited about running back against her, but I’d say right now that Candied would be pointing to the Alabama,” said Pletcher, adding that Leslie’s Rose would not be headed to that race. McPeek believes Thorpedo Anna has a growing fan base and said he would like to share her with the public. McPeek said that after three days off, Thorpedo Anna will return to the Oklahoma training track on Wednesday morning. Thorpedo Anna trains at 5:30 a.m. and she backs up to the Whitney viewing stand. While traditionally the Oklahoma training track has not been open to the public until 7 a.m. daily, for the duration of the meet fans can gain access to the Whitney stand beginning at 5:30 a.m., a New York Racing Association spokesman said. “I enjoy sharing her with everybody, if they want to see her at the Whitney Stand, and I’m open to people coming over to the annex and watching her cool out,” McPeek said. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.