2025.07.02 Oaklawn Racing Updates

Racing Updates
Compiled by Robert Yates

Coady Photo
Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Reigning Horse of the Year and three-time Oaklawn stakes winner Thorpedo Anna rebounded with another workmanlike performance Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Taking command on the outside turning for home, heavily favored Thorpedo Anna coasted to a three-length victory in the nine-furlong $500,000 G2-Fleur de Lis Stakes for older fillies and mares. Thorpedo Anna ($5,133,413) eclipsed $5 million in career earnings with her 11th victory from 14 starts. In her previous start, Thorpedo Anna finished last of seven in the $1 million La G1-Troienne Stakes for older fillies and mares May 2 at Churchill Downs.

The Fleur de Lis was the ninth career stakes victory for Thorpedo Anna, a 4-year-old daughter of Fast Anna who opened 2025 with victories in Oaklawn’s $400,000 G2-Azeri Stakes March 8 and $1.25 million G1-Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) April 12.

The Fleur de Lis mirrored the Azeri and Apple Blossom, with Thorpedo Anna ($2.70) never threatened late by her overmatched rivals. She won the Azeri by 3 ½ lengths and the Apple Blossom by 4 ¼ lengths, generating Beyer Speed Figures of 95 and 93, respectively. She received a preliminary Beyer Speed Figure of 96 for her Fleur de Lis victory under regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr. Oaklawn allowance winners Royal Spa and Taxed finished second and third, respectively.

Thorpedo Anna, carrying top weight of 124 pounds, ran 1 1/8 miles over a fast track in 1:48.52.

The Fleur de Lis was a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” for the $2 million G1-Distaff Nov. 1 at Del Mar. Thorpedo Anna, in her first start against older horses, won the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Trained by Kenny McPeek, Thorpedo Anna was a unanimous choice for North America’s champion 3-year-old filly and a runaway selection for Horse of the Year after compiling a 6-1-0 record from seven starts and earning $3,653,050. All six victories were stakes, including Oaklawn’s $750,000 G2-Fantasy in her 3-year-old debut.

Thorpedo Anna races for Brookdale Racing (Nader Alaali); her breeder, Judy Hicks; McPeek’s wife, Sherri (Magdalena Racing); and Kentucky attorney Mark Edwards.

Kenny McPeek, Oaklawn’s third-leading trainer in 2024-2025, purchased Thorpedo Anna for just $40,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale.

Will Take It, who broke his maiden in April 2024 at Oaklawn, edged Banishing by a neck to win the one-mile $300,000 Hanshin Stakes for older horses at 1 mile Sunday at Churchill Downs.The Hanshin was the first career stakes victory for Will Take It, who, as a maiden, finished ninth in the $1.5 million G1-Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn. Will Take It, in his next start, broke his maiden. Brian Hernandez Jr. rode Will Take It ($26.36) to his Hanshin victory for trainer Dallas Stewart and co-owner Kevin Horton of Marshall, Ark.

Banishing was a two-time stakes winner at the 2024-2025 Oaklawn meeting.

Finish Lines

Oaklawn-raced Smoken Wicked finished second in the $250,000 Maxfield Stakes Sunday at Churchill Downs … Oaklawn Handicap winner First Mission finished third in the $1 million G1-Stephen Foster Stakes Saturday at Churchill Downs. … Oaklawn-raced Lagynos finished third in the $500,000 Wise Dan Stakes on the turf Saturday at Churchill Downs … Oaklawn allowance winner Durante finished third in the $250,000 G3-Kelly’s Landing Stakes Saturday at Churchill Downs … Trusty Troutman ($67.08) represented trainer Lindsay Schultz’s 100th career victory in Thursday’s third race at Churchill Downs. Schultz is an Oaklawn regular and has 32 career victories in Hot Springs. … Two-time Oaklawn riding champion Cristian Torres recorded his 799th career North American victory aboard Minaret Station ($7.44) in the $250,000 American Derby on the turf Saturday at Churchill Downs, according to Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization. Torres has 285 career Oaklawn victories.