Returning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna, Chancer McPatrick Headline Saturday Slate

[Wandering Eyes]

The 'Grizzly' is done hibernating.

Reigning Horse of the Year and 'TDN Rising Star' Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) makes her highly anticipated 4-year-old debut against six overmatched rivals in Saturday's GII Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

Last year's GI Breeders' Cup Distaff heroine has posted six workouts for Kenny McPeek since late January, most recently covering five furlongs in 1:00.80 (6/37) at Fair Grounds Mar. 1. The 2-5 morning-line favorite will exit from post one with regular rider Brian Hernandez, Jr. aboard.

“I thought it was a pretty conservative spot to bring her back in,” McPeek told colleague Bill Finley earlier this week.

“If she's every bit as good as she was as a 3-year-old, I think we'd be satisfied. I don't know how much better you can get her from three to four. She's ultra special, as we all know. She's done everything right this winter. She's made an easy transition from three to four.”

Thorpedo Anna takes them all the way in the Breeders' Cup Distaff.pic.twitter.com/UZgxqgxFPK

— Del Mar Racetrack (@DelMarRacing) November 2, 2024

Fellow 'Rising Star' Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie), a head-turning winner of last term's GI Hopeful Stakes and GI Champagne Stakes at two, also makes his first start since the Championships, resurfacing for Chad Brown in Saturday's GIII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby. The 8-5 morning-line favorite suffered his first career defeat finishing sixth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, his first try around two turns.

Stablemate and 'Rising Star' Hill Road (Quality Road) was transferred to Brown following a rallying third at longshot odds of 61-1 while making his U.S. debut in the Juvenile.

Both will be racing with first-time blinkers in the Tampa Bay Derby.

“Him and Chancer, neither of them have as many works that I would want given their 60-day breaks, which is more (time off) than you'd want to give a Derby horse in the off season,” Brown said in these pages on Friday. “But I want to give these horses a chance to make the Derby without going all in and potentially harming their development. This race at Tampa is a bit of a happy medium. It gives you enough time on paper to make the Derby and still have a chance for them to run really well in the race.”

'Rising Star' Patch Adams (Into Mischief), a jaw-dropping maiden winner with a 98 Beyer Speed Figure two back, figures to be much more prominently placed this time after finishing a disappointing fourth, albeit with excuses, as the favorite in his first try around two turns in the GIII Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Jan. 25.

The fantastic Tampa Bay Derby undercard also features the GII Hillsborough Stakes, GIII Michelob Ultra Challenger Stakes and GIII Florida Oaks.

Cavalieri (Nyquist), unbeaten winner of the GIII La Canada Stakes, will put her perfect three-for-three mark on the line for Bob Baffert against five opponents in the GI B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile Stakes at Santa Anita. The 11-race program also includes the GIII San Simeon Stakes.

Saturday's graded action is rounded out by the GIII Hurricane Bertie Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

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