Thorpedo Anna

The reigning Horse of the Year 'TDN Rising Star' MGISW Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) has emerged from her tour de force in Saturday's GII Azeri Stakes, and is on track for an anticipated start in the GI Apple Blossom Apr. 12 at Oaklawn Park. Having emerged from her seasonal bow in said local prep for the Grade I marquee race for older fillies and mares, she will return to Fair Grounds early this week where trainer Kenny McPeek said she will train this month and 'maybe' into April before returning...

It seems only fitting the America's reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) would make her 4-year-old debut in a race named for another racemare to achieve those heights. While the effort was ultimately more workmanlike than it was scintillating, it served to shake off whatever rust might have been in play, and the Ken McPeek-trainee treated her four rivals to a front-running display, with clearly better to come over the course of the spring, summer and fall. Off at a dime on the dollar in a field...

The 'Grizzly' is done hibernating. Reigning Horse of the Year and 'TDN Rising Star' Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) makes her highly anticipated 4-year-old debut against six overmatched rivals in Saturday's GII Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Last year's GI Breeders' Cup Distaff heroine has posted six workouts for Kenny McPeek since late January, most recently covering five furlongs in 1:00.80 (6/37) at Fair Grounds Mar. 1. The 2-5 morning-line favorite will exit from post one with regular rider Brian Hernandez, Jr. aboard. "I thought it was a pretty conservative spot...

On the road to Oaklawn Park from his barn at Fair Grounds, Kenny McPeek seemed like a man without a care in the world when reached by phone in his car. And why should he? His Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) will begin her 4-year-old year in the GII Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn and since last seen in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff she has not missed a step. "If she's every bit as good as she was as a 3-year-old I think we'd be satisfied," McPeek...

A halter worn by champion Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) is available in the Bourbon & the Bayou silent auction, run by the non-profit child advocacy organization CASA of Lexington. Bidding on the halter, as well as hundreds of other items, including Kentucky bourbon, vacation packages and gift baskets, is open at https://bandb2025.givesmart.com through 9:45 p.m.  Feb. 28. To directly access the bidding page for the halter, visit https://bit.ly/thorpedoanna. CASA of Lexington's annual Bourbon and the Bayou fundraiser raises funds that provide advocacy for hundreds of abused and neglected children in...

On the back of a year which saw Kentucky-breds thriving at the pinnacle of domestic and international competition, the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation has paid out a record $20-million through its Kentucky Thoroughbred Breeders' Incentive Fund (KTBIF) to participating breeders for races won in 2024, it was announced via press release Friday afternoon. Consistently in elite company at home, Kentucky-breds won 289 of 401 graded races in the U.S. including all three legs of the Triple Crown--all by different horses--and captured 10 Eclipse awards led by Horse of...

Newly-turned 3-year-old Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) and Saturday's GI Pegasus World Cup winner White Abarrio (Race Day) top Week 1 of the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll through Jan. 26. In addition to Citizen Bull, who won the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar last November, Bob Baffert also trains the second-place 3-year-old in Barnes (Into Mischief). Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro) was third while Saturday's GIII Southwest Stakes winner Speed King (Volatile) rounded out the top five. White Abarrio was the top-ranked thoroughbred, beating out newly-crowned...

After considering several options, trainer Kenny McPeek said Monday that newly minted Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) will make her four-year-old debut in the GII Azeri S. on March 8 at Oaklawn Park. That would give her time to make the April 5 G1 Dubai World Cup, but McPeek said he has all but ruled out a trip to the Middle East in order to run in the April 12 GI Apple Blossom S., also at Oaklawn. "The Azeri will be a good first step back for...

In many respects, especially on the racetrack, it was a good year for the sport of horse racing. Controversies weren't the thorny issue they normally are and on the racetrack there were dozens of races that were memorable, some of the best we've seen in some time. That was the theme Thursday night at the 54th Eclipse Awards ceremony. The winners, the losers, and those who were there just to take in the show, made sure this would be a feel-good night about people who loved the sport and their...

Only a courageous runner-up effort behind 'TDN Rising Star' and 3-year-old male Eclipse finalist Fierceness (City of Light) in the GI Travers Stakes this past August stood between Brookdale Racing Inc, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks and Magdalena Racing's 'TDN Rising Star' Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) and a perfect season in 2024. But the enormously talented dark bay filly was utterly dominant against her own sex in 2024 and became the first female since Havre de Grace (Saint Liam) in 2011 to take home the coveted Horse of the Year statuette...

A perfect six-for-six against her own sex in 2024, 'TDN Rising Star' Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) was a slam-dunk choice for top 3-year-old filly honors. Both 3-year-old divisional winners sold at Fasig-Tipton. Sierra Leone topped the 2022 Saratoga Sale on a bid of $2.3 million while it required just $40,000 to purchase Thorpedo Anna out of the Fasig-Tipton October Sale a few months later. Thorpedo Anna, a leading candidate for Horse of the Year honors, is the first American champion for her sadly departed stallion, also a son of Darley...

Leading Horse of the Year candidate Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) has an early 2025 racing schedule that could include two races at Oaklawn or a trip to Dubai, trainer Kenny McPeek said Wednesday afternoon via a press release from the Hot Springs track. Thorpedo Anna's conditioner said the filly--nicknamed the 'Grizzly Bear' last season--is under consideration for the GII Azeri Stakes Mar. 8 and the GI Apple Blossom Handicap April 12. The Azeri is Oaklawn's final major prep for the Apple Blossom. McPeek said Thorpedo Anna might take on males...