Zipse: Appreciating Thorpedo Anna while she still is racing

Generally, when a racehorse wins three out of four while running exclusively in Grade 1 or Grade 2 races, it would be looked upon as a very successful first half of the season. Thorpedo Anna is not your average racehorse, however.

The 4-year-old daughter of Fast Anna set an extremely high bar for herself with a sensational season in 2024, which culminated with a decisive victory in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar. It all was enough to easily outdistance her competition and become only the second sophomore filly in the past 75 years to be named horse of the year.

While some will discount her abilities and her performances as an older horse, I choose to appreciate that such a fine racehorse is still on the track and competing in important races.

After ending a losing streak of one race by easily winning the Fleur de Lis (G2) at Churchill Downs in her latest start, Thorpedo Anna is back at Saratoga. It’s arguably the nation’s best racetrack and a setting where she flourished last year. With 14 career races already in her past performances, I am genuinely excited to see what her future holds.

Although not a stakes winner at 2, Thorpedo Anna got off to a strong start for trainer Kenny McPeek. She won her debut by 8 1/2 lengths over maidens at Keeneland and then won her second career start by nine lengths against allowance competition at Churchill Downs.

She suffered her first defeat when second in the Golden Rod Stakes (G2) after breaking poorly and tiring late in her first try around two turns. It was her third race within a month, and it signaled the close of her juvenile season.

It was at 3 when Thorpedo Anna really set herself apart. Making her seasonal debut in the Fantasy Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn, she stalked the pace from her far outside post position before cruising to her initial stakes victory confidently.

The prestigious Kentucky Oaks (G1) was next. There she faced 13 of the most highly thought-of 3-year-old fillies in the land. With regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr. in the irons, she went right to the lead on the wet track. Although pressured early through strong fractions, she easily kicked away from the large field down the lane to win by 4 3/4 lengths.

Considered to be the best filly in the country after that performance, Thorpedo Anna shipped to Saratoga, where she would be stabled for five months.

The Belmont Stakes was considered for the talented filly, but with Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness runner-up Mystik Dan in the barn, it was decided to keep her against her own sex for a few more races.

Despite throwing a shoe in June’s Acorn Stakes (G1), she won for fun. In the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) six weeks later, she broke poorly but still had little trouble dispatching her opposition.

McPeek, who with his wife Sherri is also a part-owner along with breeder Judy Hicks, Brookdale Racing and Mark Edwards, decided it was time to test his prized filly against the boys.

The $1.25 million Travers Stakes (G1) is the centerpiece of the Saratoga summer and was an ideal spot for streaking Thorpedo Anna. Despite reeling off four consecutive lopsided victories in the biggest races for 3-year-old fillies, the detractors came out in force.

An aspect of American racing that I do not fully understand is the eagerness of many to discount females when facing males. Time and time again I have seen good fillies and mares run well against the boys when given the chance.

I’m not sure if there is a breeding value aspect behind it, the fact that it is seldom done or downright sexism, but it seems a section of the sport does not want the girls to beat the boys.

So I was not surprised heading into last year’s Travers when people told me that Thorpedo Anna had no shot. She wasn’t beating anyone, and her speed figures were too slow. I’ve been closely following the sport long enough to know better.

It was often said that Seattle Slew didn’t beat anything either, until he did. If there were speed figures back then, he likely would have suffered on that end as well. But when the gates opened on almost every occasion, you simply did not want to be lining up against him.

My favorite race for Seattle Slew was actually in a defeat. His Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) of 1978 was pure class and all heart.

Thorpedo Anna didn’t run as well as Slew did 46 years earlier, but last summer’s Travers is also a race which I believe defines her heart and class. I was in attendance for each, and both are races I never will forget.

Comparing her with the other most highly decorated 3-year-old filly champions of the past decade, Thorpedo Anna is the one that has tried the males. She did it once in a huge race and is likely to do so again.

As great as Songbird, Monomoy Girl and Malathaat were, they never once ventured in against the males. And that’s fine, but it is yet another reason why I appreciate Thorpedo Anna.

Naysayers are quick to point out that she never has won a race against males, which makes me chuckle. I guess it’s true, but her one attempt to date against the likes of Fierceness, Sierra Leone and Dornoch was pretty spectacular in my experienced eyes.

While there are many out there who like to take shots and belittle the stars of today, I prefer to find joy in what we have. Sure, I wish Flightline and Justify raced many more times than they did, but I still can value what we did see of them.

In Thorpedo Anna, I see a special filly who actually is entering the starting gate in big races around the country and doing it regularly.

Her career record to date is 14: 11-2-0 with $5,133,413 in earnings.

She has six Grade 1 wins including the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, Kentucky Oaks, Apple Blossom, Coaching Club American Oaks, Acorn and Cotillion and three Grade 2 wins with the Fantasy, Azeri and Fleur de Lis.

Her average margin in her 11 victories is better than 4 1/2 lengths, and she has run in nothing but Grade 1 or Grade 2 races since winning her first two starts easily.

Those statistics and the ease in which she has won most of those races are quite impressive to me. And better yet, she is still going.

The only poor performance in her career came when she was banged hard going into the first turn of the La Troienne (G1) two starts ago. Having bounced back nicely in her next start and returning now to Saratoga, her future remains bright.

McPeek said the Personal Ensign (G1) at Saratoga, the Spinster Stakes (G1) at Keeneland, and either the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) or Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar will be her next three races. Personally, I can’t wait.

I was lucky enough to attend the debut performance of Thorpedo Anna at Keeneland nearly two years ago, and it has been nothing but a pleasure to appreciate her ever since.