‘Grizzly’ Not Hibernating As McPeek Weighs Options For Thoropedo Anna

[Wandering Eyes]

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 again–like she did when she was the runner-up in the GI DK Travers Stakes Aug. 24–in the G1 Dubai World Cup Apr. 5.

Thorpedo Anna resumed training earlier this month in Florida in advance of her 4-year-old debut.

“We're not going to rule out her making the Azeri,” McPeek said. “She's such a natural athlete and she's bouncing out of her skin already. It's not going to take long to get her ready. And if I thought she was ready, I would probably prep her somewhere in the South, between Gulfstream and Fair Grounds, and bring her in for the Azeri. And that would give her a race under her belt before what would be either the World Cup or the Apple Blossom, although I would tell you we'd probably lean strongly to the Apple Blossom.”

The newly-minted 4-year-old hasn't started since she captured the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff at Del Mar Nov. 2, which marked her first race against older horses and capped a remarkable 2024 campaign.

Thorpedo Anna returned to the track Jan. 6 at Gulfstream Park, where she was reunited with retired two-time Oaklawn riding champion Robby Albarado, who regularly galloped her last year in Hot Springs. McPeek, Oaklawn's leading trainer so far this season, said Thorpedo Anna is approaching her first breeze of 2025.

“You could have walked her off the farm and worked her half a mile and she would have said, 'Sure, no problem,'” McPeek said. “She's just a natural athlete. We're going to give her a couple, three weeks of nice gallops. Robby Albarado gets on her every day. We'll let her run the lane this weekend a little bit at Gulfstream. We're just, right now, taking it a step at a time.”

Albarado, who was galloping horses for McPeek earlier this season at Oaklawn, is also getting on 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan (Goldencents) at Gulfstream Park in advance of a possible start in its GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Jan. 25.

The Grizzly's first day back at work @GulfstreamPark.

Trainer of the year finalist @KennyMcPeek on hand with an update…#ThorpedoAnna pic.twitter.com/qHV4OqUfI9

— Thorpedo Anna (@Thorpedo_Anna) January 6, 2025

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