It was not quite a paid workout, but Thorpedo proved dominant when it counted Saturday.
The reigning horse of the year who scored in five Grade 1 stakes in 2024 made her 4-year-old debut a successful one by winning the Grade 2, $400,000 Azeri for five older fillies and mares at Oaklawn.
Trained by Kenny McPeek and ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr. as always, Thorpedo Anna (1-9) broke sharply and maintained the lead throughout the 1 1/16-mile race on the wet, fast dirt. With her ears pricked and with a relaxed run, she set early fractions of 24.27, 48.59 and 1:12.99.
Free Like a Girl (20-1), a 6-year-old who has earned more than $2 million, stalked closely most of the way. That led Hernandez to give Thorpedo Anna few taps of the crop. She accelerated down the homestretch through a mile in 1:37.56 on the way to a 3 1/2-length victory.
The winning time was 1:44.02, and Thorpedo Anna paid $2.20, $2.10 and $2.10.
Free Like a Girl placed second and returned $6.00 and $4.00. Recharge (13-1) came in third and paid $4.60 to show. Alpine Princess was fourth, and Jody’s Pride finished last. Wild Bout Hilary reared in the gate as the race was about to start and was scratched, leading to a brief delay while the rest of the field was reloaded.
Thorpedo Anna became the first reigning horse of the year to win the following season since 2017 champion Gun Runner took the 2018 Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1).
McPeek said afterward the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) on April 12 was likely to be the next race for Thorpedo Anna, who had been idle since she won the Breeders' Cup Distaff on Nov. 2 at Del Mar.
