Thorpedo Anna has been the most dominant 3-year-old filly in the country this year. She is undefeated in her 3-year-old season, prevailing in the Fantasy Stakes, Kentucky Oaks, Acorn Stakes and the Coaching Club American Oaks.

“She's done everything right,” said Kenny McPeek, her trainer. “She's been fast from the beginning. She's made our job easy. She eats like a colt. She's a very aggressive eater, which is super. Not all fillies are that way.”

Purchased two years ago for $40,000, Thorpedo Anna has just been built different compared to other female horses — so much so, McPeek has decided to put her up against the ultimate challenge: the 155th Travers Stakes.

“I think it's a really good challenge for her,” he said. “She's been dominant over her 3-year-old fillies this year. And I thought the [Alabama Stakes] was going to be a race that certainly she could have won. But it really wasn't going to challenge her too much. And she's at a stage where she's as good as ever.”

While this will be her first race against colts, Thorpedo Anna has had workouts with stablemate Mystik Dan. According to McPeek, she pushed him all last spring to help him win the Kentucky Derby.

“We know it's possible,” McPeek said. “And I think she's good enough right now to give her a chance to do it.”

The last time a filly ran in the Travers Stakes was in 2018. In fact, three of the first five Travers Stakes ever were won by a female horse. The last time a filly actually won the Mid-Summer Derby was more than a century ago in 1915.

“If she were to beat the colts in the Travers, I mean, she's immortal,” McPeek said. “You're going to read about her for another 100 years.”

Thorpedo Anna has six wins in seven career races. On August 24, she will look for another trip to the winner’s circle, with $1.25 million and history on the line.

“It's going to create a lot of excitement for Saratoga and horse racing in general,” McPeek said.