Called in off the bench, the $750,000 Fantasy Stakes (G2) March 30 at Oaklawn Park was an easy layup for Thorpedo Anna as she defeated nine 3-year-old fillies to clinch a spot in the May 3 Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs.
Off four months following a runner-up finish in the Golden Rod Stakes (G2) Nov. 25 at Churchill, trainer Kenny McPeek had no doubt his Fast Anna filly was primed for a big performance.
“We were very confident,” McPeek said. “She likes to run, she’s got a lot of energy.”
Breaking well from post 10, Thorpedo Anna settled three wide in third, behind Recharge and Candy Aisle , through fractions of :23.45, :47.90, and 1:13.14.
A statue in Thorpedo Anna’s saddle, Brian Hernandez Jr. gave her a nudge at the five-sixteenths pole and she inhaled the lead easily. West Omaha , who tracked behind Thorpedo Anna throughout, followed her target up into second and looked to pose a challenge, but was no match.
Thorpedo Anna opened up in the stretch and rolled home a four-length winner, completing the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.24. West Omaha held second while Tapit Jenallie closed for third.
As the second choice, Thorpedo Anna paid $7.40. Favored My Mane Squeeze and third choice Lemon Muffin were the last two entering the backstretch and never mounted serious rallies, finishing eighth and seventh, respectively.
It was the fourth win on the card for both Hernandez and McPeek.
A $40,000 purchase at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale, Thorpedo Anna is owned by Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks, and Magdalena Racing. Hicks also bred the filly.
“(Hicks has) given us a lot to work with,” McPeek said. “This filly is plain fast and certainly showed a lot of class today.”
The win awarded Kentucky Oaks qualifying points on a scale of 100-50-25-15-10 to the top five finishers. Now holding 105 points, Thorpedo Anna has clinched a spot in the Oaks as has West Omaha, who now holds 90 points.
Thorpedo Anna improved her career record to 3-1-0 from four starts for earnings of $584,363.
Video: Fantasy S. (G2)
Frosted Grace Becomes a Millionaire in Oaklawn Mile
Former claimer Frosted Grace became racing’s newest millionaire after pulling off a surprise victory in the $500,000 Oaklawn Mile Stakes (G3).
Frosted Grace wins the Oaklawn Mile Stakes at Oaklawn Park
Breaking well, jockey Ramon Vazquez eased Frosted Grace off the pace to allow Last Samurai and Silver Prospector to move forward into a speed duel. Vazquez’s outside position worked to his advantage as he kept 8-5 favorite Midnight Rising pinned on the rail behind the leaders.
Asked to move forward midway on the far turn, Frosted Grace responded and drew alongside Silver Prospector as Last Samurai threw in the towel. Frosted Grace took over at the final furlong and surged ahead to defeat Silver Prospector by 1 1/2 lengths, completing the mile in 1:36.61. Nautical Star finished third.
Frosted Grace paid $14.40 for a $2 win bet.
Previously trained by Robertino Diodoro, owners Flying P Stable moved the 8-year-old son of Mark Valeski to trainer Mike Maker prior to this race. It was Maker’s second win in the Oaklawn Mile, having previously won the inaugural running in 2019 with Exulting .
“Beautiful trip, nice ride, nice horse,” Maker said. “Seldom do they play out the way you expect, but this sure did.”
Bred by Brereton C. Jones, Frosted Grace was a $10,000 purchase at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale by Danny Valdez. Flying P Stable claimed the horse as a 6-year-old during the 2022 Keeneland fall meet for $32,000. Since the claim, Frosted Grace has won two grade 3 stakes and increased his career earnings to $1,113,562.
