Thorpedo Anna does it again, this time in Apple Blossom
With a burst of speed through the second turn, reigning horse of the year Thorpedo Anna cruised into the lead on her way to a 4 1/4-length triumph Saturday in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap for older fillies and mares at Oaklawn.
Ridden as usual by Brian Hernandez Jr. for trainer Kenny McPeek, 4-year-old Thorpedo Anna added her sixth Grade 1 victory to her record that already had pushed her past $4 million in earnings.
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After a middling start from post 5 in the six-horse race, Thorpedo Anna (1-10) settled behind pacesetter Wild Bout Hilary (22-1) through fractions of 23.47 and 46.74 seconds.
It was early in the second turn where Thorpedo Anna noticeably accelerated as three-quarters of a mile went in 1:11.22 and she moved into the lead turning into the homestretch. Free Like a Girl (13-1) tried to make it a contest, but she never was going to be a match for the champion who performed similarly last out when she won the Azeri (G2) over the same course and distance.
After a mile in 1:37.70, Thorpedo Anna crossed with a winning time of 1:44.27 for the 1 1/16 miles on the main track that was baked fast on a sunny, 74-degree afternoon.
"She just keeps amazing us every time," Hernandez told Fox Sports. "We think she's good. She just keeps getting better and better. She really is a once-in-a-lifetime filly. She wants to be a good horse, and she wants to show how dominant she is. All I've got to do is sit up here and stay out of her way."
Thorpedo Anna paid $2.40, $2.10 and $2.10 across the board. Free Like a Girl was second and returned $4.00 and $2.20. Where’s My Ring (5-2) wound up third and paid $2.10. Neom Beach (50-1) came in fourth.
McPeek said he plans to bring Thorpedo Anna back for the La Troienne (G1), which is 20 days away on the Kentucky Oaks (G1) card.
"She's an old-school type filly," McPeek said. "I've never been scared to race my horses. As long as she eats up tonight and has a good next couple of weeks, we'll give her a little maintenance breeze, and they can expect to see her at Churchill Downs."
Owned by Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, her breeder Judy Hicks and McPeek's wife Sherri under the name Magdalena Racing, Thorpedo Anna ran her record to 12: 10-2-0. With Saturday's $731,250 first prize, her career earnings are $4,814,913.