Barn Notes 2/5/25
Compiled by Robert Yates
Ladies first. Again.
Thorpedo Anna became the sixth Oaklawn-raced female to capture Horse of the Year, easily outdistancing her 3-year-old male counterparts during the 54th annual Eclipse Awards dinner Jan. 23 in Palm Beach, Fla.
Thorpedo Anna began her march toward racing’s highest individual honor – she was a unanimous choice for an Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old filly – with a victory in the $750,000 Fantasy Stakes (G2) last March at Oaklawn. She ultimately capped a banner night for Oaklawn, which was also represented by two other equine champions (Straight No Chaser and Soul of an Angel) and one human (jockey Erik Asmussen).
“To have a representation with Thorpedo Anna and, of course, all the other great horses that came through Oaklawn, it’s a testament to our organization and our racing program,” Oaklawn President Louis Cella said.
In the one-sided race for Horse of the Year, Thorpedo Anna received 193 first-place votes from members of the three voting blocs – Daily Racing Form, National Turf Writers and Broadcasters Association and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, which consists of racing officials and Equibase track and field personnel. Sierra Leone (10) and Fierceness (five), both 3-year-old males, were second and third, respectively.
Under the care of Kenny McPeek, Oaklawn’s second-leading trainer last season, Thorpedo Anna produced a 6-1-0 record from seven starts and earned $3,653,050. All six victories were stakes.
After capturing the 1 1/16-mile Fantasy, the Kentucky-bred daughter of Fast Anna raced exclusively in Grade 1 events the remainder of 2024 and secured her division title with victories in the $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, $500,000 Acorn at Saratoga, $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga, $1 million Cotillion at Parx and the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff Nov. 2 at Del Mar. The Cotillion was 1 1/16 miles. Thorpedo Anna’s other four victories, including the Distaff, her first start against older horses, were at 1 1/8 miles.
“It’s a proud moment,” said Brian Hernandez Jr., Thorpedo Anna’s regular rider. “She carried us all year long. For her to get the recognition she surely deserves, it’s been fun. We were pretty confident (about Horse of the Year). She was the most consistent horse all year long. It’s an honor to be able to ride her.”
Thorpedo Anna’s most memorable performance came in her only 2024 loss.
Tackling males for the first time, Thorpedo Anna was beaten a head by Fierceness in the $1.25 million Travers at 1 ¼ miles Aug. 24 at Saratoga. Fierceness had been named the Champion 2-Year-Old male of 2023. Thorpedo Anna won the Sept. 21 Cotillion by a neck in her next start.
“Those two races, back-to-back, showed her grittiness and her toughness,” Hernandez said.
Thorpedo Anna is targeting the $400,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) March 8 at Oaklawn for her 4-year-old debut. The Azeri is Oaklawn’s final major prep for the $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) April 12. Both races for older fillies and mares are 1 1/16 miles.
Thorpedo Anna races for a partnership that includes her breeder, Judy Hicks, and McPeek’s wife, Sherri (Magdalena Racing).
Thorpedo Anna is the seventh female to be crowned Horse of the Year since the Eclipse Awards, an equine version of the Oscars, were introduced in 1971. The others are All Along (1983), Lady’s Secret (1986), Azeri (2002), Rachel Alexandra (2009), Zenyatta (2010) and Havre de Grace (2011). The only member of that group not to have raced at Oaklawn was All Along, a turf standout.
Lady’s Secret won Oaklawn’s Prima Donna Stakes for 3-year-old fillies in 1985 and finished second in the 1986 Apple Blossom. Azeri won the Apple Blossom in 2002, 2003 and 2004. Rachel Alexandra won the Martha Washington Stakes and the Fantasy, Oaklawn’s biggest race for 3-year-old fillies, in 2009. Zenyatta won the Apple Blossom in 2008 and 2010. Havre de Grace won the Azeri and Apple Blossom in 2011.
In addition to Thorpedo Anna, powerful 2023 Oaklawn allowance winner Straight No Chaser was named champion male sprinter and Soul of an Angel, sixth in the 2024 Azeri, was named champion female sprinter.
Straight No Chaser won the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) Nov. 2 at Del Mar. Soul of an Angel won the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) earlier on the card.
Asmussen, 22, was a runaway choice for champion apprentice jockey after winning 127 races last year, including two at Oaklawn, and his mounts earning $5,078,150.
Asmussen is the son of Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Oaklawn’s all-time leading trainer, and the nephew of Cash Asmussen, who won an Eclipse Award in 1979 as the country’s champion apprentice jockey.
Steve Asmussen was an Eclipse Award winner in 2008 and 2009 as the country’s outstanding trainer.
Erik Asmussen, now a journeyman, has seven victories at the 2024-2025 Oaklawn meeting that began Dec. 6.
Eclipse finalists were announced Jan. 5 after tabulating votes from Daily Racing Form, NTWAB and NTRA. Of the 240 eligible voters, 208 (87%) voted. Finalists were determined in each category by voters’ top three selections, using a 10-5-1 point basis.
Eclipse Award winners were determined solely by first-place votes.
Finish Lines
Racing is scheduled to resume Friday at Oaklawn, with first post 12:30 p.m. (Central). Oaklawn is only scheduled to run two days this week (Friday and Saturday) after dropping Super Bowl Sunday in 2025 because business had traditionally lagged that day. “Very slow day for us, usually,” Oaklawn General Manager Wayne Smith said after the 2024-2025 dates were released last spring. … Tis Charming ($14.20) represented the record-extending 961st career Oaklawn victory for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen in Monday’s third race. Erik Asmussen, a 2024 Eclipse Award winner as the country’s outstanding apprentice jockey, rode the Tis Charming for his father. Erik Asmussen is now a journeyman. Asmussen and Kenny McPeek are tied atop the trainer standings with 14 victories. … Godolphin’s Loved is the 9-5 program favorite for the $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles Saturday at Oaklawn. The Bayakoa drew five other entrants – multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Corningstone, Wild About Hilary, Little Jamie, Bow Draw and Free Like a Girl, the leading accredited Louisiana-bred money winner in history ($2,123,438).