In a commanding display from start to finish in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff, Thorpedo Anna capped her remarkable sophomore season with an effortless 2 1/2-length victory over Raging Sea.
This win virtually secures the 2024 horse-of-the-year title for the daughter of Fast Anna, especially as her main competitor for the honor, Fierceness, finished second to Sierra Leone two races later in the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic.
If Kenny McPeek-trained Thorpedo Anna indeed collects multiple Eclipse Awards in January, she would join Rachel Alexandra as only the second 3-year-old filly in the last 79 years to earn the horse-of-the-year title.
Rider Brian Hernandez Jr., who has partnered with her in all 10 of her starts, knew that a smooth break from the gate would allow her to control the race.
When that was achieved, Thorpedo Anna dominated in a field softened by the absence of Idiomatic and Awesome Result.
Facing older horses for the first time is rarely easy, but Thorpedo Anna made it look that way.
Raging Sea, entering the race after three consecutive graded stakes wins in New York—including a Grade 1 victory over Idiomatic in the Personal Ensign at Saratoga—could only chase as Thorpedo Anna cruised every step of the way.
Starring on the grand Breeders’ Cup stage at Del Mar is just another highlight for this soon-to-be champion.
Six months earlier, she burst into the national spotlight by dominating the Kentucky Oaks (G1) just a day before her stablemate, Mystik Dan, won the Kentucky Derby in a rare double for McPeek.
The Kentucky Oaks win at Churchill Downs—on a rainy, sloppy track—mirrored her Breeders’ Cup performance in many ways.
Whether in the rain or on a sunny day on the California coast, Thorpedo Anna took command early and never looked back.
Not that she always leads from the front.
Just over a year ago, Thorpedo Anna made her debut at Keeneland, going seven furlongs against maiden competition.
She surged from far back to win by a commanding 8 1/2 lengths, announcing her arrival.
McPeek, her veteran trainer, has long been known for his knack for finding bargains.
Nearly three decades after his 1995 Kentucky Derby runner-up Tejano Run put him on the map, McPeek is still discovering gems.
At 62, he’s having the best season of his career, highlighted by both Mystik Dan’s Kentucky Derby win and Thorpedo Anna’s historic Breeders’ Cup victory.
McPeek spotted her at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall yearling sale, where he purchased the filly for a mere $40,000.
Bred by Judy Hicks out of an unraced Uncle Mo mare named Sataves, Thorpedo Anna has since rewarded that investment many times over.
When Hicks thanked McPeek for the purchase and expressed her confidence in the young horse, he agreed to let her retain a share.
They have continued to co-own the rising star ever since.
The Kentucky Oaks and the Breeders’ Cup Distaff remain Thorpedo Anna’s two most notable victories, but her time in Saratoga was also key to her exceptional season.
Despite challenges in both the Acorn Stakes and the Coaching Club American Oaks, she handled her Grade 1 competition at Saratoga with ease, and these victories in June and July solidified her reputation. Her next test would be a true trial.
Reminiscent of Zenyatta’s near miss against Blame in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic, Thorpedo Anna ran impressively in this summer’s Travers Stakes (G1) against top colts, boosting her standing even in defeat.
Her sole loss of 2024 in the Travers was as good as a defeat can be.
It was only strengthened when the winner, Fierceness, and third-place finisher, Sierra Leone, performed well in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
In a performance that may secure him the 3-year-old male championship, Sierra Leone finally found the fast pace he needed and surged home for an impressive Breeders’ Cup Classic win.
Fierceness also showed his class, battling fiercely to a second-place finish.
As impressive as Sierra Leone and Fierceness were, Thorpedo Anna closed her season with a career-defining win.
With six victories in 2024, including the Fantasy Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park and the Cotillion Stakes (G1) at Parx, Thorpedo Anna stands alone in the horse-of-the-year discussion.
She missed a perfect 7-for-7 season by a diminishing head in the Travers, but her five Grade 1 wins outnumber the combined totals of Sierra Leone and Fierceness.
Competing at the highest level from March to November, she displayed unmatched consistency and brilliance.
Thorpedo Anna has captured the hearts of racing fans worldwide.
Set to return for her 4-year-old campaign, her popularity promises to soar even higher in 2025. For now, fans can revel in the unforgettable season she delivered.
