In a performance that was as dominant as it was expected, heavy favorite Thorpedo Anna cruised to a decisive 2 1/2 length victory in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Saturday at Del Mar racetrack in California. The sensational 3-year-old filly, ridden by jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., completed the 1 1/8 mile race in a swift 1:49.10 to cap off a spectacular season.
For trainer Ken McPeek, Thorpedo Anna’s tour de force ended a frustrating 0-for-37 drought in the Breeders’ Cup, one of thoroughbred racing’s biggest stages. “The expectation with her is so high,” McPeek said after the race. “I love the fact that Brian took the initiative and just got it done. For me, it was workmanlike and that’s what you need.”
A Season for the Ages
The Breeders’ Cup triumph was just the latest in a string of major victories for Thorpedo Anna in 2024. Earlier in the year, the chestnut filly won the prestigious Kentucky Oaks, the female equivalent of the Kentucky Derby, in similarly authoritative fashion.
She also finished a game second to Fierceness in a thrilling renewal of the Travers Stakes at Saratoga in August, a race typically restricted to male horses. That narrow defeat is the only blemish on an otherwise perfect record this season.
Mystik Dan Connection
Thorpedo Anna provided trainer McPeek and jockey Hernandez with their second classic win of 2024, following Mystik Dan’s heart-pounding nose victory in the Kentucky Derby in May. The veteran trainer and rider have formed a potent partnership with their star fillies this year.
“Ken and I have had an incredible run with these two special fillies,” Hernandez said. “Thorpedo Anna is just a dream to ride. She has tactical speed, she relaxes, and then she gives you everything she’s got down the lane. She’s a true champion.”
Turf Upset and Tragedy
While Thorpedo Anna’s Distaff win was the highlight for the home team, European invaders continued their dominance in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Turf. The Charlie Appleby-trained Rebel’s Romance held off 22-1 longshot Rousham Park to become the ninth European winner in the last 10 runnings of the 1 1/2 mile grass race.
However, the Turf was marred by tragedy, as France-bred 3-year-old Jayarebe collapsed and died on the track shortly after finishing seventh. According to on-call veterinarian Dr. Al Ruggles, the cause was suspected to be a cardiac event, a sobering reminder of the risks these equine athletes face each time they compete.
Sprinting to Victory
In other Breeders’ Cup races on Saturday:
- 19-1 longshot Soul of an Angel rallied from far back to take the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.’s first Breeders’ Cup win.
- 30-1 outsider Starlust survived a chaotic start and a foul claim to upset the $1 million Turf Sprint under young jockey Rossa Ryan.
Horse of the Year Debate
With her Distaff win, Thorpedo Anna has thrust herself squarely into the Horse of the Year conversation. Her brilliance has been on display all season, and she’s captured the public’s imagination like few fillies in recent memory.
Still, she’s likely to face stiff competition for racing’s highest year-end award from the likes of Mystik Dan and Fierceness, setting the stage for a spirited debate as the year draws to a close. But one thing is certain: Thorpedo Anna has cemented her place among the pantheon of racing’s all-time great fillies with her unforgettable 2024 campaign.
