As Thorpedo Anna makes an attempt to make historical past Saturday by turning into the eighth filly to win the DraftKings Travers Stakes and the primary since Woman Rotha in 1915, America’s Finest Racing sought perception from Danny Ramsey, her ageless 74-year-old train rider. Ramsey mentioned her historic bid – and a few keys to residing lengthy and nicely – in a diary written with Tom Pedulla.
When individuals ask me how I’m doing, I typically reply, “Higher than good.” A minimum of the identical will be mentioned about Thorpedo Anna as she prepares for the best problem of her profession.
In her case, she is doing a lot better than good. I’d say she is doing nice. I grew up within the Bahamas and I took out my jockey’s license after I was 14 years previous. If there’s one factor I do know, it’s horses. I used to be on Swiss Skydiver earlier than she beat the boys within the 2020 Preakness. I do know the distinction between horse and a terrific horse. I’d describe Thorpedo Anna as an absolute freak.
I labored her final Saturday on the principle monitor at Saratoga. Her coach, Kenny McPeek, needed me to verify I stored a decent maintain on her as a result of we didn’t need her to do an excessive amount of every week earlier than the massive race. She nonetheless went 5 furlongs in 59.81 seconds and that was with me working as exhausting as I may to maintain her from going sooner. I imply she did it straightforward … in hand.
At one level, she noticed a horse working forward of us. Man, did she need to go get that horse. I do speak to her and I needed to speak her out of it. She is as aggressive as they arrive. She thinks she is the very best on the market and he or she desires to show it each morning.
I’ve some considerations going into the Travers. In her final two races, each at Saratoga, she acquired fairly labored up within the paddock. Kenny and his crew have been education her within the paddock as a result of she has to preserve as a lot vitality as attainable if she is to deal with the mile-and-a-quarter distance.
They’ve completed quite a lot of work to get her accustomed to the paddock and to crowds of individuals taking a look at her. I believe this time you will notice a a lot calmer filly when it comes time for Kenny to saddle her. And he or she all the time settles down when she hits the monitor. She is aware of her job and he or she likes to run.
My largest fear is that she drew the one gap. That’s actually my solely concern. I’m a Pentecostal minister and I pray to God that she settles down within the beginning gate and breaks with the remainder of the sector. She began slowly in her final race, the Teaching Membership American Oaks, and he or she confirmed what a terrific athlete she is by recovering shortly for her jockey, Brian Hernandez Jr. Inside a number of strides, she was in an ideal place.
If she doesn’t break nicely and the rail shuts off, she may discover herself eight, 9, 10 lengths behind. I’d hate to see that. She will overcome loads, however that would depart her with approach an excessive amount of to do in opposition to such discipline.
Horses like Thorpedo Anna preserve me within the sport despite the fact that my loving spouse, Eleanor, would very very similar to for me to retire. I had a nasty accident at Gulfstream Park in 2019. I awoke within the hospital with a damaged shoulder, a fractured jaw, and a extreme concussion.
“Are you able to stop now?” Eleanor requested.
She was not ready for my reply. “No, not but,” I advised her.
Corridor of Fame coach Invoice Mott paid me a terrific praise not way back. “Guys 28, 29 don’t look pretty much as good as you on horseback,” he advised me.
That meant loads. I do every little thing I can to verify I can proceed to trip at a excessive degree. I work out 5 days every week for as much as an hour every session, doing varied stretching workouts to take care of flexibility. I eat quite a lot of baked fish and hen in addition to vegetables and fruit. My final soda was in 1987.
I’m going 12 months by 12 months with my profession. I don’t see myself stopping any time quickly. It’s so satisfying realizing I performed a task in growing horses like Swiss Skydiver and Thorpedo Anna. Thorpedo Anna is far more aggressive than Swiss Skydiver. I am going by way of a tug of warfare along with her each morning. After I see her run massive within the afternoon, it’s all value it.
Everybody desires to know if Thorpedo Anna can win on Saturday. My reply is straightforward. All of it is dependent upon the beginning. So long as she breaks cleanly, she will be able to beat the boys.
