One of the things an athlete strives for is to be the best. Looking the part is of course of great importance, but at the end of the day, it is about walking that walk. Now, if you can do both…Look out.
Thorpedo Anna came into 2025 off a more than brilliant three-year old season. This daughter of Fast Anna won six grade 1 races in 2024 including the Kentucky Oaks and Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Her only trip around a dirt oval that didn’t see her parade to the winner’s circle was a nostril loss to the boys in the grade 1 the Travers’ Stakes. No, that was not a misprint, we said SIX grade 1 victories.
As the calendar turns sometimes horses can lose some of their mojo. Like any athlete, things can change from year to year. One of the greatest three year old fillies in recent memory, Rachel Alexandra, was not the same runner as a four-year-old. So how would Anna respond after a long and decorated campaign in 2024?
The early returns tell us she may just be better than ever. On March 8 she enjoyed a front-running score in her 2025 debut in the grade 2 Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Her latest showcase was in the grade 1 Apple Blossom Stakes again at Oaklawn on April 12. The post parade before the race was as telling as a post parade can be. Prancing like a runway model, Thorpedo Anna exuded this aura of greatness. An eye catcher for sure, she then performed like a jaw-dropper with a convincing 4 ¼ length win.
“I think she is the most confident filly ever”, says trainer Kenny McPeek. “She has been a dream horse to have in our barn. Sometimes I pinch myself to make sure I am awake.”
McPeek has done a masterful job of handling this superb talent. Her next performance will likely come at Churchill Downs during their Spring meet. The post parade in her next outing might feature another show as we have seen Thorpedo Anna is sexy and she knows it.
Recent Comments