Reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna emerged in good order from her victory in the $400,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park March 8 and is scheduled to return to Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots early this week, said Ray Bryner, who oversees trainer Kenny McPeek’s Oaklawn division, March 9.
“She came out of it perfect—absolutely perfect,” Bryner said. “She’ll leave Monday or Tuesday.”
Thorpedo Anna, in her 4-year-old debut, shook off a challenge from Free Like a Girl turning for home and drew off to a front-running 3 1/2-length victory under regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr. Thorpedo Anna, who broke from the rail, covered 1 1/16 miles over a sealed, wet-fast surface in 1:44.02. She paid $2.20 as the 1-9 favorite.
McPeek was using the Azeri as Thorpedo Anna’s bridge to the $1.25 million Apple Blossom (G1) for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles April 12 at Oaklawn.
“As long as everything’s good with her, health-wise, she is going to run in the Apple Blossom,” McPeek said immediately following the Azeri.
McPeek said Thorpedo Anna would train this month and “maybe” into April at Fair Grounds before returning to Oaklawn for the Apple Blossom.
Thorpedo Anna ($4,083,663) eclipsed $4 million in career earnings following her ninth victory from 11 starts. She is a seven-time graded stakes winner. McPeek trains Thorpedo Anna, a daughter of the late Fast Anna, for a partnership that includes her breeder, Judy Hicks, McPeek’s wife, Sherri (Magdalena Racing), and Kentucky attorney Mark Edwards. Kenny McPeek purchased Thorpedo Anna for just $40,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale.
Thorpedo Anna became the third reigning Horse of the Year to run at Oaklawn, following Favorite Trick and Azeri. Favorite Trick, the 1997 Horse of the Year, suffered his first career loss in the $500,000 Arkansas Derby (G2) for 3-year-olds in 1998. Azeri was the 2002 Horse of the Year. A three-time Apple Blossom winner (2002, 2003 and 2004), Azeri was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
