Horse of the year Thorpedo Anna returns Saturday in Azeri
Photo:
Alex Evers / Eclipse Sportswire
No. 1 is still no. 1, at least to start.
Thorpedo Anna, the 2024 horse of the year, is scheduled to break from the rail in her 4-year-old debut, the $400,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles Saturday at Oaklawn.
The Azeri headlines an 11-race card that begins at 1:30 p.m. EST. Probable post time for the Azeri, the 10th race, is 6:25 p.m. EST.
Trained by Kenny McPeek, Thorpedo Anna was a unanimous choice as North America’s champion 3-year-old filly and a runaway winner for horse of the year after compiling a 7: 6-1-0 record and earning $3,653,050. All six victories were stakes, including Oaklawn’s $750,000 Fantasy (G2) at 1 1/16 miles last March in her 3-year-old debut.
Thorpedo Anna raced exclusively in Grade 1 events the remainder of 2024, capping her championship campaign with a front-running 2 1/2-length victory in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff Nov. 2 at Del Mar in her last start. The 1 1/8-mile Distaff was Thorpedo Anna’s first race against older horses.
Recharge and Alpine Princess finished first and second, respectively, in the $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic (G3) at 1 1/16 miles Jan. 25 at Sam Houston Race Park. Free Like a Girl, the leading accredited Louisiana-bred money winner in history with $2,173,438, narrowly missed her first career graded-stakes victory after finishing second, beaten a head by Wild Bout Hilary, in the $250,000 Bayakoa (G3) at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 8 at Oaklawn. Jody’s Pride is a multiple stakes winner in New York.
The Azeri is Oaklawn’s final major prep for the $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at 1 1/16 miles April 12.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | Morn. line |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Thorpedo Anna Fast Anna |
7.88 | 2-5 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
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| 2 |
|
Alpine Princess Classic Empire |
6.60 | 6-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 3 |
|
Jody’s Pride American Pharoah |
6.53 | 8-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 4 |
|
Wild Bout Hilary Midnight Lute |
6.56 | 15-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 5 |
|
Recharge Gun Runner |
6.71 | 12-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 6 |
|
Free Like A Girl El Deal |
6.45 | 15-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 7 |
|
Bow Draw Oxbow |
4.45 | 30-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
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