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Robert Yates/Oaklawn/Updated
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The Queen made it look easy. Again.
Reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna cruised to another victory, this time in the $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) for older fillies and mares before on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Oaklawn.
The 1-5 favorite under regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr., Thorpedo Anna finished 4 ¼ lengths ahead of Free Like a Girl, with Where’s My Ring another 1 ½ lengths farther back in third. After tracking Wild Bout Hilary through a :46.74 half mile, Thorpedo Anna ($2.40) glided to the lead on the outside approaching the three-eighths pole, then shook off a challenge by Free Like a Girl at the top of the stretch.
Given a right-handed tap of the whip approaching the sixteenth pole, Thorpedo Anna drew off to complete 1 1/16 miles over a fast track in 1:44.27. Thorpedo Anna carried top weight 124 pounds, 4 more than Free Like a Girl.
Neom Beach, Wild Bout Hilary and Sweet Alyssa completed the order of finish. Noble Miss was scratched, reducing the starting field to six.
“She went around the (second) turn with her ears up—she was just gonna kind of cruise from there,” Hernandez said.
"I just gotta stay out of her way."@JoaquinJaime_ walked and talked with @b_hernandezjr after he won the $1.25 million Apple Blossom (G1) on THORPEDO ANNA. pic.twitter.com/deS9cKcIiV
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) April 12, 2025
Blossom victory for trainer Kenny McPeek, who narrowly missed winning the 2003 edition when Take Charge Lady was beaten a head by reigning Horse of the Year Azeri.
Thorpedo Anna was a runaway selection for North American Horse of the Year and a unanimous choice for an Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old filly after winning six of seven starts, including five Grade 1 events. Her only loss was against males, a head setback to champion Fierceness in the $1.25 million Travers Stakes (G1) at 1 ¼ miles August 24 at Saratoga.
“I wished every horse trainer in America and even jockey could have a horse like her, to be around a horse like her,” McPeek said. “I mean, I’ve worked all my career to try to find those kind of horses, and she really does make our job easy. She’s not complicated. She loves to eat. She loves to train. She’s a real pleasure to be around. I mean, she’s just great.”
"She's going to come right back in the La Troienne (G1) in 3 weeks."@JoaquinJaime_ spoke with trainer @KennyMcPeek after Horse of the Year THORPEDO ANNA won the $1.25 million Apple Blossom (G1) at @OaklawnRacing. pic.twitter.com/5B8LUSoieP
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) April 12, 2025
In her 2025 debut, Thorpedo was a front-running 3 ½-length winner over Free Like a Girl in the $400,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) March 8 at Oaklawn. The 1 1/16-mile Azeri was Oaklawn’s final major prep for the Apple Blossom. Thorpedo Anna raised her career earnings to $4,814,913 following her 10th victory from 12 lifetime starts. She is an eight-time stakes winner.
Thorpedo Anna races for her breeder, Judy B. Hicks, Brookdale Racing (Nader Alaali), Mark Edwards and Magdalena Racing (McPeek’s wife, Sherri). Thorpedo Anna was purchased for just $40,000 at Fasig-Tipton’s 2022 Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale.
Thorpedo Anna launched her Horse of the Year campaign with a four-length victory in Oaklawn’s $750,000 Fantasy Stakes (G2) at 1 1/16 miles.
Apple Blossom Handicap Quotes
Winning Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. (Thorpedo Anna): “I hit her one time, just because she inherited the lead so easily around the (second turn) and she threw her ears up. And when she turned for home, I called on her and she spurted off, and then she kind of got to messing around, looking at the crowd and stuff like that. I just wanted to make sure that she was fully engaged. I slapped her one time and she shot off again. That was kind of the plan, to follow the horse on the lead (Wild Bout Hilary). The horse on the lead, she was cruising along pretty nicely. But that filly’s never faced a filly of our quality. Another testament to her (Thorpedo Anna). She decided when she wanted to go. I was just kind of sitting up there. When she swapped leads going into the second turn and she jumped on her, I was like: ‘OK, no worries.’ ”
Winning Trainer Kenny Mcpeek (Thorpedo Anna): “We talked about keeping her out of trouble and we talked about, perhaps, even challenging anybody that wanted to go up front. He (jockey Brian Hernandez Jr.) is a master classman at this. I really don’t worry about Brian and what he does out there. I’ve said all along, I really trust Brian. It makes me a little nervous when a horse is that short a price because there’s such expectations. But you’d rather be the favorite than the long shot, I suppose, to get it done. I wish every horse trainer in America, and even jockey, could have a horse like her to be around. I worked all my career to try to find those kind of horses and she really does make our job easy. She’s not complicated. She loves to eat. She loves to train. It’s a real pleasure to be around her. She’s great.”
Congratulations to Thorpedo Anna & all of her connections on winning the 2025 Apple Blossom Stakes race! @Thorpedo_Anna @KennyMcPeek pic.twitter.com/BeUxoBYAhy
— Marianne Malczewski (@GA72MXM) April 12, 2025
Winning Co-Owner Judy B. Hicks (Thorpedo Anna): “I think she belongs there (with previous highly regarded Apple Blossom winners). She proved today that belongs right up there with all the other big names.”
Second-Place Jockey Julien Leparoux (Free Like A Girl): “She ran great. Perfect trip. She tried hard. Just got beat a champion. That’s it.”
Second-Place Trainer Chasey Deville Pomier: “Can’t complain. “I don’t think so (when asked about Free Like a Girl being retired). We always go race-by-race. Everybody keeps asking. We go race-by-race and she performed well today. I think we’re going to maybe aim at the La Troienne again and see where we go. I was hoping there would be a little more speed on the front end, a little pressure, but it pretty much played out like we thought it was going to.”
