Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna gets reacquainted with Keeneland. (Courtney Snow/Past The Wire)
McPeek goes for third Grade 1, Juddmonte Spinster on Sunday
Keeneland Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.—After arriving from trainer Kenny McPeek’s Churchill Downs base on Thursday afternoon, reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna was reacquainted with Keeneland Friday morning. With former jockey Robby Albarado aboard, the 4-year-old filly strolled around Keeneland’s new Saddling Paddock before a long clockwise jog followed by a counterclockwise gallop.
Thorpedo Anna is the 8-5 favorite in the field of five for Sunday’s $650,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1) for fillies and mares. McPeek won the race with Take Charge Lady in 2002 and 2003.
Thorpedo Anna is the first reigning Horse of the Year to race at Keeneland since double honoree Wise Dan returned here in 2013 and 2014.
“Everywhere she goes, she walks in like she owns it,” McPeek said. “She is unfazed by (everything). To bring her back here at this stage in the Spinster, it’s just a real special race to run in. We didn’t think she needed any Paddock schooling — we could have brought her over the morning of the race — but I do think she settled in here and jumped into the feed tub last night. We still have a couple of days until we run, but it’s nice to have her here.”
Thorpedo Anna the gallop @keeneland pic.twitter.com/lM2nkC7K4F
— Kenny McPeek (@KennyMcPeek) October 3, 2025
Nearly two years ago at Keeneland, Thorpedo Anna began her career by scoring an 8½-length win under regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr. In the Juddmonte Spinster, Flavien Prat will substitute for the sidelined Hernandez.
Thorpedo Anna, who is owned by John G. Sikura’s Hill ‘n’ Dale Thoroughbred Holdings, Sherri McPeek’s Magdalena Racing, Mark Edwards and breeder Judy Hicks, who was in attendance Friday morning, has banked $5.4 million in a 15-race career. She has won 12 races and been runner-up twice.
“Certainly, she is the most popular horse I have ever trained,” McPeek said. “Swiss Skydiver (who was second in the 2020 Toyota Blue Grass at Keeneland, won the Preakness-G1 and was the year’s champion 3-year-old filly) was a fantastic filly. I thought I’d never find a better filly than Take Charge Lady (who never lost at Keeneland), but Swiss Skydiver was. And now this one. I might be getting a reputation with the girls.”
Thorpedo Anna paddock school @keeneland pic.twitter.com/9QcDEEgOvo
— Kenny McPeek (@KennyMcPeek) October 3, 2025
On Saturday, Thorpedo Anna is expected to have a similar routine with a Saddling Paddock walk and on-track gallop around 7:30 a.m.
The Juddmonte Spinster, which will be run for the 70th time, is part of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” series that offers a guaranteed starting spot and travel expenses to Del Mar for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) on Nov. 1.
Thorpedo Anna won last year’s Distaff at Del Mar en route to Eclipse Awards as Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old filly.
