Horse of the Year

The reigning Horse of the Year 'TDN Rising Star' MGISW Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) has emerged from her tour de force in Saturday's GII Azeri Stakes, and is on track for an anticipated start in the GI Apple Blossom Apr. 12 at Oaklawn Park. Having emerged from her seasonal bow in said local prep for the Grade I marquee race for older fillies and mares, she will return to Fair Grounds early this week where trainer Kenny McPeek said she will train this month and 'maybe' into April before returning...

It seems only fitting the America's reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) would make her 4-year-old debut in a race named for another racemare to achieve those heights. While the effort was ultimately more workmanlike than it was scintillating, it served to shake off whatever rust might have been in play, and the Ken McPeek-trainee treated her four rivals to a front-running display, with clearly better to come over the course of the spring, summer and fall. Off at a dime on the dollar in a field...

The 'Grizzly' is done hibernating. Reigning Horse of the Year and 'TDN Rising Star' Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) makes her highly anticipated 4-year-old debut against six overmatched rivals in Saturday's GII Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Last year's GI Breeders' Cup Distaff heroine has posted six workouts for Kenny McPeek since late January, most recently covering five furlongs in 1:00.80 (6/37) at Fair Grounds Mar. 1. The 2-5 morning-line favorite will exit from post one with regular rider Brian Hernandez, Jr. aboard. "I thought it was a pretty conservative spot...

On the back of a year which saw Kentucky-breds thriving at the pinnacle of domestic and international competition, the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation has paid out a record $20-million through its Kentucky Thoroughbred Breeders' Incentive Fund (KTBIF) to participating breeders for races won in 2024, it was announced via press release Friday afternoon. Consistently in elite company at home, Kentucky-breds won 289 of 401 graded races in the U.S. including all three legs of the Triple Crown--all by different horses--and captured 10 Eclipse awards led by Horse of...

After considering several options, trainer Kenny McPeek said Monday that newly minted Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) will make her four-year-old debut in the GII Azeri S. on March 8 at Oaklawn Park. That would give her time to make the April 5 G1 Dubai World Cup, but McPeek said he has all but ruled out a trip to the Middle East in order to run in the April 12 GI Apple Blossom S., also at Oaklawn. "The Azeri will be a good first step back for...

Only a courageous runner-up effort behind 'TDN Rising Star' and 3-year-old male Eclipse finalist Fierceness (City of Light) in the GI Travers Stakes this past August stood between Brookdale Racing Inc, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks and Magdalena Racing's 'TDN Rising Star' Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) and a perfect season in 2024. But the enormously talented dark bay filly was utterly dominant against her own sex in 2024 and became the first female since Havre de Grace (Saint Liam) in 2011 to take home the coveted Horse of the Year statuette...

Leading Horse of the Year candidate Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) has an early 2025 racing schedule that could include two races at Oaklawn or a trip to Dubai, trainer Kenny McPeek said Wednesday afternoon via a press release from the Hot Springs track. Thorpedo Anna's conditioner said the filly--nicknamed the 'Grizzly Bear' last season--is under consideration for the GII Azeri Stakes Mar. 8 and the GI Apple Blossom Handicap April 12. The Azeri is Oaklawn's final major prep for the Apple Blossom. McPeek said Thorpedo Anna might take on males...

It's an interesting year when it comes to the Eclipse Awards, which will be announced next week. As always, there are the categories that are no-brainers where the winners should be unanimous. But there are several divisions this year that aren't so clear-cut, which will make for an interesting ceremony come Jan. 23. Here's a look at my ballot: Two-Year-Old Male: Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) Became the obvious pick after winning the 2024 GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Scary thing is that he might be no better than the third...

Kieffers Company's Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) was named the 2024 Japanese Horse of the Year and Champion Older Male, the Japan Racing Association (JRA) announced on Tuesday. The formal 2024 JRA Awards Ceremony will be held in a hotel in Tokyo at 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 27. The Yasuo Tomomichi trainee was poised for a big 2024 and duly delivered victories in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) and the G1 Japan Cup in October and November, respectfully. He received 236 of the 256 possible votes for Horse...

With plenty of tasty birthday cake in the offing, a cadre of newly-minted 3-year-old colts have blown out their candles and are ready for stakes action across four tracks on Saturday. Leading the charge at Santa Anita is the GII San Vicente Stakes, which is the annual renewal of the seven furlong dirt race. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has won 13 prior editions, including last year with Muth (Good Magic). In customary fashion, the Hall of Famer enters a pair of runners in Barnes (Into Mischief) and Romanesque...

While Runhappy has always been 'The Man' in Cordell Anderson's book, over the past two months, Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) has quickly become 'The Girl.' Anderson is best known for his steady presence in the sales ring. The Jamaican-born horseman has been a showman at Keeneland for the past 35 years, leading countless horses to seven-figure sales over the decades, but Anderson has also worked for various racing stables throughout his career. He worked for Kenny McPeek about 20 years ago before later moving on to Laura Wohlers of Gallery...

Knicks Go (Paynter--Kosmo's Buddy, by Outflanker), the 2021 Horse of the Year, will stand the 2025 breeding season at $12,500, S&N, Taylor Made Farm announced Wednesday. The 8-year-old stallion, whose first foals are yearlings this year, stood the 2024 season at $15,000. Knicks Go's first yearlings at auction include a colt who sold to CHC/Maverick Racing/Siena Farm for $425,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, and a filly purchased by Horseology for MyRacehorse for $200,000, also at Keeneland September. Breeding incentives to the five-time Grade I winner will be available....