2025.08.26 Oaklawn Racing Updates

Racing Updates
Compiled by Robert Yates

Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Reigning Horse of the Year and multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Thorpedo Anna moved closer to year-end honors with a narrow victory in the $500,000 G1-Personal Ensign Stakes for older fillies and mares Saturday at Saratoga.

Thorpedo Anna, the 3-4 favorite under regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr., edged Dorth Vader by a nose, with Leslie’s Rose another 9 ¾ lengths farther back in third. All three horses carried an equal top weight of 124 pounds. The winning time over a fast track was 1:49.18. The 1 1/8-mile Personal Ensign was a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” for the $2 million Distaff (G1) Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

The Personal Ensign marked the fourth victory in five 2025 starts for Thorpedo Anna, whose trainer, Kenny McPeek, ranked third in last season’s Oaklawn standings. A 4-year-old daughter of Fast Anna, Thorpedo Anna opened 2025 with victories in Oaklawn’s $400,000 G2-Azeri Stakes March 8 and the $1.25 million G1-Apple Blossom Handicap April 12.

Thorpedo Anna ($3.50) became the fourth horse since 2014 to win the Apple Blossom and Personal Ensign in the same year, following Close Hatches (2014), Midnight Bisou (2019), and Letruska (2021). Close Hatches, Midnight Bisou, and Letruska were all Eclipse Award winners (champion older female) the year they swept both races.

Thorpedo Anna was a runaway selection for Horse of the Year and a unanimous choice for champion 3-year-old filly after winning six of seven starts in 2024, including Oaklawn’s $750,000 G2-Fantasy Stakes in her sophomore debut. The Fantasy will carry a record $1 million purse in 2026. Thorpedo Anna added five Grade 1 victories in 2024, capped by the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, which marked her first start against older horses.

Overall, Thorpedo Anna has a 12-2-0 record from 15 starts and earnings of $5,408,413. She also won the $500,000 G2-Fleur de Lis Stakes June 28 at Churchill Downs. The 1 1/8-mile Fleur de Lis was another

“Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Thorpedo Anna now races for her breeder, Judy B. Hicks, Mark Edwards, Magdalena Racing (McPeek’s wife, Sherri) and Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings (John Sikura). Kenny McPeek purchased Thorpedo Anna for just $40,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale.

Banishing Does It Again

Multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Banishing captured the $1 million G2-Charles Town Classic Friday night at Charles Town for co-owner/trainer David Jacobson.

Banishing ($7.40) came from off the pace to finish 2 ¼ lengths ahead of Oaklawn-raced Willy D’s, with Oaklawn maiden special weight graduate Gould’s Gold another three lengths further back in third. Banishing, who was ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, ran 1 1/8 miles over a fast track in 1:53.26.

The versatile Banishing was a standout at the 2024-2025 Oaklawn meeting, compiling a 3-2-0 record from five starts. Banishing topped millionaire multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Tejano Twist in a December allowance race and won the inaugural $145,000 Byerley Turk – the 5-year-old gelding’s stakes debut – by 7 ½ lengths in January. Both races were six furlongs.

Banishing then finished second, beaten just a head, in the $500,000 G3-Razorback Handicap Feb. 23. The Razorback, which Banishing nearly won in wire-to-wire fashion, was run in a meet-best 1:41.88. Banishing beat millionaire Grade 1 winner Saudi Crown to win the $500,000 G3-Oaklawn Mile March 29 before finishing second in the $1.25 million G2-Oaklawn Handicap (G2) at 1 1/8 miles April 19.

Banishing was exiting a nose victory over Booth in the $150,000 Jeff Hall Memorial Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs July 20 at Ellis Park. Booth won three sprint stakes last season at Oaklawn, including the $500,000 G3-Count Fleet Sprint Hadnicap.

Banishing, a son of 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper, has a 9-5-2 record from 23 lifetime starts and earnings of $1,890,709. Banishing has a 4-4-0 record from nine starts this year, with earnings of $1,566,730.

Finish Lines

Stall applications for Oaklawn’s 2025-2026 season are due Sept. 18. The 64-day meeting is scheduled to run Dec. 12-May 2. … Favored Oaklawn-raced Patch Adams ($7) won the seven-furlong $500,000 G1-H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes Saturday at Saratoga. … Oaklawn allowance winner Indy Bay ($7) captured the $750,000 G2-Charles Town Oaks for 3-year-old fillies Friday night at Charles Town. … Iron Dome, who made his first three career starts this year at Oaklawn, was a 6 ¾-length winner of the $200,000 Albany Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles Thursday at Saratoga. Jose Ortiz rode the heavily favored Iron Dome ($2.60) for all-time Oaklawn leading trainer Steve Asmussen. … Oaklawn stakes winner Majestic Oops finished third in the $500,000 G1-Ballerina Stakes Saturday at Saratoga. … Oaklawn-raced Express Train finished third in the $250,000 G2-Pat O’Brien Stakes Saturday at Del Mar. … Oaklawn stakes winner Rose Palace finished third in the $150,000 Ellis Park Turf Stakes for fillies and mares Sunday at Ellis Park.