Thorpedo Anna showed the world just how big her heart is with a dramatic nose victory over Dorth Vader in the $500,000 Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes Aug. 23 at Saratoga Race Course.

After grabbing the lead past the half-mile pole, Thorpedo Anna dueled with Dorth Vader down the length of the stretch and prevailed in a photo finish in a final time of 1:49.18 for the 1 1/8 miles. Sent off as the heavy favorite in a field of seven, Thorpedo Anna returned $3.50 for a $2 win ticket. Leslie's Rose was a distant third.

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Thopedo Anna's regular pilot, Brian Hernandez Jr., rode the 4-year-old daughter of Fast Anna for trainer Kenny McPeek. Owned in partnership by Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings, Magdalena Racing, Mark Edwards, and her breeder, Judy Hicks, Thorpedo Anna collected her second Grade 1 win of 2025 to go along with her victory back in April in the Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park.

As a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series event, her "win and you're in" victory in the Personal Ensign grants Thorpedo Anna an automatic, fees-paid berth into the $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff Nov. 1 at Del Mar. Thorpedo Anna is the defending Breeders' Cup Distaff champion.

"She showed what a true champion she was," Hernandez Jr. said. "When she decided to make her run, I just let her do her thing. In these Grade 1 races, these horses keep taking shots at you, and you have to respect them all. She's Horse of the Year, and she showed why she deservingly should be."

Dorth Vader certainly lost no luster in defeat for trainer George Weaver and jockey John Velazquez.

"It was a great race," Weaver said. "Unfortunately, I'm on the losing end of the photo, but all in all, I think Dorth Vader validated her status in this division and we're looking forward to going to the Breeders' Cup."

For Thorpedo Anna's next start, McPeek said he will cross-nominate to the Sept. 25 Grade 3 Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park and the Oct. 5 Grade 1 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes at Keeneland.

Book'em Danno Too Good in Forego Stakes

He may be a Jersey boy from humble beginnings, but you can count on Book'em Danno when the big stage comes calling.

That was the case again Aug. 23 as the 4-year-old flashed his brilliance to earn a second career top-level victory in the $500,000 Grade 1 Forego Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.

Boom'em Danno. (Scott Serio/Eclipse Sportswire)

Book'em Danno completed a unique triple at the track by sweeping three graded sprints this summer that were all held at Saratoga: the Grade 3 True North Stakes in June, the Grade 2 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes in July, and now the Forego in August. The True North is typically held at Belmont Park, which is currently undergoing renovations.

"He's probably the first (New Jersey-bred) that's won all those three races," said trainer Derek Ryan. "I don't think it'll be done again. He's a pretty good horse."

More than pretty good, Book'em Danno has been exceptional this season. Winning four of his five starts, his lone defeat came by just a neck when fourth to Mindframe, Nysos, and Banishing in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes presented by Ford at seven furlongs May 3. All three of those horses have come back to win graded races going longer.

That success this season coincides with the appointment of Paco Lopez to the saddle at the start of the year. Their relationship paid off Saturday as Lopez was able to keep Book'em Danno relaxed behind the leaders as they set fractions of :22.63 and :44.85.

"(Lopez) just gets along with him," Ryan said. "He gets in the position I want him in all the time."

When Lopez found daylight between the pacesetters entering the stretch, he pushed through. Book'em Danno engaged Most Wanted for a brief battle before establishing command with a furlong to run. Scotland and Crazy Mason launched belated rallies but were too late and finished second and third, respectively.

The victory awarded Book'em Danno an automatic, fees-paid berth to the $1 million Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar Nov. 1, thanks to the Breeders' Cup Challenge "win and you're in" Series. Ryan was non-committal about traveling to California.

Hope Road Wins Ballerina Stakes, Earns Breeders' Cup Berth

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree was the theme of the Grade 1 $500,000 Resorts World Casino Ballerina Stakes Aug. 23 at Saratoga Race Course.

Hope Road. (Adam Coglianese/NYRA)

Hope Road followed in the footsteps of her dam, 2018 Ballerina winner Marley's Freedom and prevailed by two lengths for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.

The Ballerina is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: "Win and You're In" event for the Nov. 1 PNC Bank Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Del Mar, and with the win, Hope Road secured a fees-paid Breeders' Cup berth.

Hope Road was cantankerous behind the starting gate and needed some encouragement from the gate crew, but once the doors opened, she exited cleanly and showed early speed to track the pacesetting Scylla through fractions of :22.31 and :44.56 in the seven-furlong race under jockey Jose Ortiz, who was riding the 4-year-old filly for the first time. Hope Road, the 2.05-1 favorite in the seven-horse field, came to the outside of Scylla in the stretch and put the second choice away with flair in the final sixteenth.

Hope Road completed the distance in 1:21.93 and returned $6.10 to win.

Scylla finished second, four lengths in front of third-place finisher Majestic Oops.

Hope Run gave Baffert his third win in the Ballerina following victories with Marley's Freedom seven years ago and Gamine in 2020.

"There's nothing better to me in racing than to win a Grade 1 at Saratoga. That is huge, especially on Travers Day. That is really huge in this business. I just wish I could have been there to enjoy it with them. I'm so proud of my crew there," Baffert said from his base in California.

The win was Hope Road's first in a Grade 1 and her fifth victory from 12 career starts. She elevated her earnings to $866,620. -- Karen M. Johnson