First Look: Thorpedo Anna, Ky. Derby prep, 6 more graded races
Photo:
Jason Moran / Eclipse Sportswire & Tampa Bay Downs
In an era when they race ’em to breed rather than breed ’em
to race, Thorpedo Anna is a rarity.
When she lines up Saturday in the Grade 2, $400,000 Azeri
Stakes at Oaklawn, she will be the first reigning horse of the year to go to
the post since Knicks Go three years ago. She also will be the first such
champion to start a race later than the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1)
since California Chrome in 2015.
Thorpedo Anna’s return comes the same day as another horse will
all but certainly clinch a place in Kentucky Derby 2025. That will be the winner
of the Tampa Bay Derby (G3), whose graduates Street Sense in 2007 and Super
Saver in 2010 went on to wear the roses at Churchill Downs.
Eight graded stakes, five featuring fillies and mares, are scheduled for Saturday at four
tracks. Probable and possible starters for races yet to be drawn were provided by track racing offices.
Saturday
Azeri (G2), Oaklawn, 1 1/16 miles, fillies and mares,
4-year-olds and up
It might not have Saratoga’s reputation as a graveyard of
champions, but the Azeri has not been kind to favorites. My Miss Aurelia and
Untapable brought Eclipse Award credentials to Oaklawn and lost. It happened
twice to Untapable, both times at odds-on. Absinthe Minded, Terra Promessa,
Elate, Shedaresthedevil and Clairière were even money or shorter on the
toteboard when they finished up the track. Thorpedo Anna tries to become only
the third favorite in 16 years to win the Azeri.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Thorpedo Anna Fast Anna |
7.88 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
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| 2 |
|
Alpine Princess Classic Empire |
6.60 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
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| 3 |
|
Jody’s Pride American Pharoah |
6.53 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
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| 4 |
|
Wild Bout Hilary Midnight Lute |
6.56 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
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| 5 |
|
Recharge Gun Runner |
6.71 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
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| 6 |
|
Free Like A Girl El Deal |
6.45 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
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| 7 |
|
Bow Draw Oxbow |
4.45 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
Tampa Bay Derby (G3), Tampa Bay Downs, 1 1/16 miles,
3-year-olds, Kentucky Derby 50-25-15-10-5 points race
Chancer McPatrick, Patch Adams and Owen Almighty are
expected to meet in hopes of avenging recent defeats. A $725,000 McKinzie colt,
Chancer McPatrick was 3-for-3 before he finished a late-to-the-party sixth in
the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. WinStar Farm homebred Patch Adams has been an
odds-on favorite in all three of his starts for trainer Brad Cox, but he has
won only once. He flattened to finish fourth Jan. 25 in the Southwest (G3) at
Oaklawn. Owen Almighty, who crossed the finish line first in three of his first
four races, was outdueled by John Hancock last month in the Sam F. Davis (G3)
over the same course and distance as Saturday’s race.
| Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer | Last Start / Next Start | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Chancer McPatrick McKinzie |
7.32 | Probable | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
|
Brodeur Nyquist |
6.27 | Probable | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
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|
|
Filoso City of Light |
6.24 | Probable | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
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|
|
Owen Almighty Speightstown |
6.22 | Probable | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
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|
|
Patch Adams Into Mischief |
6.15 | Probable | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
|
Burning Glory Into Mischief |
6.34 | Possible | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
|
Hill Road Quality Road |
6.34 | Possible | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
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Hillsborough (G2), Tampa Bay Downs, 1 1/8 miles, turf,
fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
An undefeated horse is eye-catching enough in past
performances. How about 7-for-7? Gimme a Nother is expected to make her U.S.
debut for trainer Graham Motion after pitching that perfecto in her native South
Africa. Formerly in the barn of renowned trainer Mike De Kock, the
Gimmethegreenlight mare who is considered to be 5 in the Northern Hemisphere
was a two-time Group 1 winner last spring. She has not raced since and was sold
by her breeder to Virginia-based Newstead Farm. Hitting the work tab in January,
Gimme a Nother has not turned heads with her breezes, but she has drilled reliably
seven times to prepare for her comeback.
| Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer | Last Start / Next Start | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Spaliday More Than Ready |
6.77 | Probable | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
|
Saffron Moon Malibu Moon |
6.56 | Probable | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
|
Sparkle Blue Hard Spun |
6.44 | Probable | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
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|
|
Avenue Niel Helmet |
5.84 | Probable | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
|
Gimme A Nother Gimmethegreenlight |
0.00 | Probable | |||
|
Next Race |
||||||
|
|
Victoria’s Dancer Munnings |
0.00 |
6th, TAM AOC (02/08/2025-R8) |
Probable | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
6th, TAM AOC (02/08/2025-R8) |
|||||
|
|
Damaso Outwork |
4.45 |
1st, TAM AOC (02/14/2025-R5) |
Possible | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
1st, TAM AOC (02/14/2025-R5) |
|||||
|
|
She’s Fire Flameaway |
0.00 |
6th, TAM AOC (02/14/2025-R5) |
Possible | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
6th, TAM AOC (02/14/2025-R5) |
|||||
Challenger (G3), Tampa Bay Downs, 1 1/16 miles, 4-year-olds
and up
Most Wanted and Skippylongstocking are expected to bring
their very different résumés to this fork in their career roads. At 4, Most
Wanted comes back from a three-month break that followed his second-place
finish to Rattle N Roll in the Clark (G2) at Churchill Downs. That was his
first loss for Cox after going 4-for-4 with victories in the Ellis Park Derby
and the Oklahoma Derby (G3). Now 6, Skippylongstocking has lost three times
since he won the Charles Town Classic (G2) last summer. The $3,365,985 earner
for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. began his year finishing third to White Abarrio
and Locked in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1).
| Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer | Last Start / Next Start | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Skippylongstocking Exaggerator |
7.48 | Probable | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
|
Most Wanted Candy Ride |
6.74 | Probable | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
|
Patriot Spirit Constitution |
6.18 | Probable | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
|
Instant Coffee Bolt d’Oro |
6.15 | Probable | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
|
O Captain Carpe Diem |
5.27 |
1st, GP CLM (01/29/2025-R9) |
Probable | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
1st, GP CLM (01/29/2025-R9) |
|||||
|
|
Bendoog Gun Runner |
6.53 | Possible | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
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Florida Oaks (G3), Tampa Bay Downs, 1 1/16 miles, turf,
3-year-old fillies
Nitrogen was a 9-5 favorite when she broke her maiden Jan. 4
in the listed Ginger Brew at Gulfstream Park. The triumph began to validate the
faith her dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse showed in her. After losing by a
neck in her debut last summer, Nitrogen found herself in the deep end of the
stakes pool finishing third as a 41-1 long shot in the Natalma (G1) at
Woodbine. Undaunted, Casse entered the daughter of Medaglia d’Oro in the
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, where she was a surprising third at odds
of 49-1.
| Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer | Last Start / Next Start | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Nitrogen Medaglia d’Oro |
6.59 | Probable | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
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|
|
Deloraine Candy Ride |
5.87 | Probable | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
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|
|
Lush Lips Ten Sovereigns |
5.79 | Probable | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
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|
|
Smart Union Union Rags |
5.79 | Probable | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
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|
|
Celtic Motif Saxon Warrior |
0.00 | Probable | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
|
Love You Anyway Tapit |
0.00 | Probable | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
|
Miavana Jimmy Creed |
0.00 | Probable | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
|
Pretty Lavish Ribchester |
0.00 | Probable | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
|
Smudge Quality Road |
0.00 | Probable | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
|
Jalila Justify |
0.00 | Possible | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
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Hurricane Bertie (G3), Gulfstream Park, 6 1/2 furlongs,
fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
After three straight wins against overmatched stakes rivals,
lightly raced 5-year-old Nic’s Style steps up to graded competition for the
first time. Trained by Bill Mott, she ran her record to 7: 6-1-0 by winning
last month’s Minaret Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. Joseph, who is Gulfstream
Park’s leading trainer, counters with two entrants. Six-year-old Spirit Wind is
a two-time graded-stakes winner, and 4-year-old R Disaster finished second to
Nic’s Style in the December running of the City of Ocala Florida Sire Stakes at
Tampa Bay.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Nic’s Style Uncaptured |
6.17 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 2 |
|
Into Champagne Into Mischief |
6.42 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 3 |
|
Ruthless Rua Distorted Humor |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 4 |
|
R Disaster Awesome Slew |
0.00 |
1st, GP AOC (01/18/2025-R10) |
Entered | |
|
Last Race Next Race |
1st, GP AOC (01/18/2025-R10) |
|||||
| 5 |
|
Save Time Into Mischief |
0.00 |
1st, GP MSW (02/13/2025-R4) |
Entered | |
|
Last Race Next Race |
1st, GP MSW (02/13/2025-R4) |
|||||
| 6 |
|
Spirit Wind Bahamian Squall |
6.53 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 7 |
|
Done Enough Flameaway |
0.00 |
1st, GP AOC (02/16/2025-R8) |
Entered | |
|
Last Race Next Race |
1st, GP AOC (02/16/2025-R8) |
|||||
Beholder Mile (G1), Santa Anita, 1 mile, fillies and
mares, 4-year-olds and up
Late-blooming 4-year-old Cavalieri, trained by Bob Baffert, is
expected to bring her 3-for-3 record into this race. The $900,000 Nyquist filly
owned by Peter and Ann Fluor and K.C. Weiner came back from three months off to
win Jan. 19 in the 1 1/16-mile La Cañada (G3). Four-year-old Godolphin homebred
Tarifa, a three-time Grade 2 winner for Cox, and 5-year-old Alpha Bella, who
finished second in the La Cañada for John Sadler, will try to put the first
blemish on Cavalieri’s record.
| Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer | Last Start / Next Start | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Tarifa Bernardini |
7.24 | Probable | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
|
Cavalieri Nyquist |
6.93 | Probable | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
|
Alpha Bella Justify |
6.60 | Probable | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
|
Hoosier Philly Into Mischief |
6.57 | Probable | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
|
Ultimate Authority Practical Joke |
4.34 |
1st, SA AOC (01/19/2025-R10) |
Probable | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
1st, SA AOC (01/19/2025-R10) |
|||||
|
|
Richi Practical Joke |
6.73 | Possible | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
|
Splendora Audible |
6.56 | Possible | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
Seismic Beauty Uncle Mo |
0.00 |
2nd, SA AOC (02/08/2025-R8) |
Possible | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
2nd, SA AOC (02/08/2025-R8) |
|||||
San Simeon (G3), Santa Anita, 6 1/2 furlongs, turf,
4-year-olds and up
Mucho Del Oro has turned into a diamond in the rough for Janie
Buss’s Purple Rein Racing. With trainer Doug O’Neill, the sister of Los Angeles
Lakers owner Jeanie Buss claimed the Mucho Macho Man gelding for $50,000 coming
out of a 2023 win at Santa Anita. O’Neill put Mucho Del Oro on his bench for
nearly eight months before graduating him into stakes competition. He responded
with a nose loss in the 2024 Clocker’s Corner. First-place finishes followed in
the San Simeon (G3) and Daytona (G3) at Santa Anita. So, too, did another eight
months off before a sixth-place comeback Jan. 25 in the Gulfstream Park Turf
Sprint in which he lost by only 1 3/4 lengths. In five races since that $50,000
claim, Mucho Del Oro has earned $147,500.
| Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer | Last Start / Next Start | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Mucho Del Oro Mucho Macho Man |
6.23 | Probable | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
|
Gaslight Dancer City of Light |
4.34 | Probable | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
|
Charge for Gold Omaha Beach |
3.79 |
1st, SA AOC (02/08/2025-R3) |
Probable | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
1st, SA AOC (02/08/2025-R3) |
|||||
|
|
Lovesick Blues Grazen |
0.00 |
9th, DMR AOC (08/03/2024-R5) |
Probable | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
9th, DMR AOC (08/03/2024-R5) |
|||||
|
|
Sorrento Sky Prince Of Lir |
0.00 | Probable | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
|
Anarchist Distorted Humor |
6.82 | Possible | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
|
Vlahos Kantharos |
6.19 | Possible | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
|
St Anthony Noble Mission |
4.79 |
4th, TUP AOC (01/16/2025-R4) |
Possible | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
4th, TUP AOC (01/16/2025-R4) |
|||||
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