And just like that, last month's GI La Troienne is suddenly a distant memory. That mysterious May 2 effort, a seventh-place finish and her only off-the-board result in 13 prior starts, was righted Saturday as reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) got things back on track with a really never-in-doubt win in the GII Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis Stakes, a 'Win and You're In' race for this November's GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at Del Mar.
Named last year's Horse of the Year and Champion 3-year-old Filly, Thorpedo Anna went undefeated against her own sex and put in a stunning effort when defeated just a head in the GI Travers Stakes against the boys. She capped the year with a 2 1/2-length win in the Distaff to finish the season nearly flawless. Two for two up until the La Troienne this season including an easy win in the GI Apple Blossom Handicap Apr. 12, the 'Grizzly' bounced back on short rest on the Kentucky Oaks undercard but finished an underwhelming last of seven in a race which saw her bumped heavily into the first turn. Trainer Ken McPeek opted to rest his star filly after that performance, targeting the Fleur de Lis.
Heavily backed at 1-5 despite coming off the loss, Thorpedo Anna faced just four other rivals Saturday. Off with a smooth beginning from the middle of the gate, the favorite was outrun past the wire for the first time by Royal Spa (Violence) who was keen to lead from the rail. Settled second just off that runner's flank, Thorpedo Anna never let the pacesetter get too comfortable, always looming closer and closer through fractions of :23.43 and :47.07. Nearly side by side midway around the far turn, jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr. finally let his filly go and Royal Spa simply could not keep up as the Horse of the Year accelerated away through the final furlong. Under a hands and heels from Hernandez, Thorpedo Anna led in a strung-out group with Royal Spa holding a clear second and only Taxed (Collected) making up ground from the field while well back for third.
Pedigree Note:
The standard bearer for sire Fast Anna, Thorpedo Anna's pedigree has seen a nice recent update with her half-brother McAfee (Cloud Computing) picking up placings in both the GII Peter Pan Stakes and most recently, the GIII Ohio Derby Jun. 21. Second dam Pacific Sky, while unraced herself, is a half-sister to GI Wood Memorial Stakes winner Eskendereya (Giant's Causeway) and G1SW Balmont (Stravinsky). Sataves, who continues to show the prowess of Uncle Mo as an emerging broodmare sire, produced a filly by Known Agenda last year and went to Gun Runner for 2025 though she has yet to report a foal.
“She's not done! Not even close!” – @TravisStone
THORPEDO ANNA ($2.70) is BACK in the $500,000 Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2) at @ChurchillDowns! @b_hernandezjr piloted her to victory in the @LanesEndFarms @BreedersCup Challenge Series Race #WAYI into the Distaff for @KennyMcPeek. pic.twitter.com/1AN5FHoEsX
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) June 28, 2025
Saturday, Churchill Downs
FASIG-TIPTON FLEUR DE LIS S.-GII, $498,500, Churchill Downs, 6-28, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8m, 1:48.52, ft.
1–THORPEDO ANNA, 124, f, 4, by Fast Anna
1st Dam: Sataves, by Uncle Mo
2nd Dam: Pacific Sky, by Stormy Atlantic
3rd Dam: Aldebaran Light, by Seattle Slew
($40,000 Ylg '22 FTKOCT). O-Brookdale Racing, Inc., Mark
Edwards, Judy B. Hicks, and Magdalena Racing (Sherri
McPeek); B-Judy Hicks (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek; J-Brian
Joseph Hernandez, Jr. $308,500. 'TDN Rising Star'
Lifetime Record: Horse of the Year, Ch. 3yo Filly, 14-11-2-0,
$5,133,413. *1/2 to McAfee (Cloud Computing), MGSP,
$200,880. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for
the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free
Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Royal Spa, 121, m, 5, Violence–Bodacious Babe, by
Mineshaft. O/B-Breffni Farm (KY); T-Rodolphe Brisset.
$100,000.
3–Taxed, 119, m, 5, Collected–Yankee Union, by Yankee
Gentleman. ($27,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $105,000 2yo '22
OBSMAR). O-Richard Bahde; B-Brereton C. Jones (KY);
T-Randy L. Morse. $50,000.
Margins: 3, 4 1/4, 2 1/4. Odds: 0.35, 3.80, 14.16.
Also Ran: Gin Gin, Save Time.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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