Thorpedo Anna struts her stuff in the Fleur de Lis (Jenny Doyle/Past The Wire)
Churchill Downs Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Reigning Horse of the Year and Kentucky Oaks 150 winner Thorpedo Anna rebounded from a subpar effort in her last race to easily win Saturday’s 50th running of the $498,500 Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis (Grade II) at Churchill Downs – a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (GI) – by three lengths over Royal Spa.
Thorpedo Anna clocked 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.52 on a fast track under Brian Hernandez Jr., who rode the winner for trainer Kenny McPeek and owners Brookdale Racing, Inc. (Nader Alaali), Mark Edwards, Judy B. Hicks and Magdalena Racing (Sherri McPeek). This was the third fastest Fleur de Lis only behind Heritage of Gold’s 1:48.26 in 2000 and Paid Up Subscriber’s 1:48.44 in 2016.
“We’re just so happy to get her back to her top form,” McPeek said. “We’re so proud of her effort today.”
Prior to the Fleur de Lis, Thorpedo Anna finished a troubled seventh-place finish in the Fasig-Tipton La Troienne (GI) where she was bumped repeatedly into the first turn.
Royal Spa led the compact field of five fillies and mares through comfortable early fractions of :23.43 and :47.07 as Thorpedo Anna sat just off her right hip in second. Midway around the final turn, Thorpedo Anna engaged the leader as the two clipped six furlongs in 1:10.51. Thorpedo Anna took the lead at the top of the stretch and drew clear down the lane without any challenges.
“She’s an incredible filly, there’s not much more you can say about her,” Hernandez Jr. said. “I was just a passenger today and tried to stay out of her way. She had a really good trip today and just showed who we all know she is.”
The grizzly is back!
— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) June 28, 2025
Thorpedo Anna is back in the G2 Fleur de Lis at @churchilldowns for trainer @kennymcpeek with @b_hernandezjr aboard!
TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/IQeIeUidTv
Thorpedo Anna paid $2.70, $2.28 and $2.10 as the odds-on 1-4 betting favorite. Royal Spa, with jockey Flavien Prat aboard, paid $2.94 and $2.12 as 7-2 second betting choice. Taxed, at 14-1 under Rafael Bejarano, was another 4 ¼ lengths back in third and returned $2.82.
Gin Gin and Save Time rounded out the field.
Thorpedo Anna, a daughter of Fast Anna out of the Uncle Mo mare Sataves, improved her overall record to 11-2-0 in 14 starts, and the $308,500 first prize boosted her career earnings to $5,133,413 to rank 83rd on the all-time earnings list.
She also earned a guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the $2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (GI) on Saturday, Nov. 1 at Del Mar. Also, her connections will have all Breeders’ Cup pre-entry and entry fees covered and could receive a travel award up to $10,000.
Thorpedo Anna was bred in Kentucky by her co-owner Judy Hicks.
This marked the ninth graded stakes win of Thorpedo Anna’s brilliant career. Her tremendous 3-year-old season featured victories in the $1.5 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI), $500,000 Acorn (GI), $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (GI), $1 million Cotillion (GI) and $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (GI). She also finished second, beaten a head by Fierceness, against males in the $1.25 million Travers (GI).
Her 2025 campaign began with victories in the $400,000 Azeri (GII) and $1.25 million Apple Blossom (GI) at Oaklawn prior to her disappointing effort in the La Troienne.
“I think we’ll run her next at Saratoga in the Personal Ensign (GI) and then back at Keeneland for the Spinster (GI),” McPeek said. “Who knows? If she goes through both of those hoops maybe we’d run her in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI).”
