Thorpedo Anna in Good Order, On Track for Apple Blossom Showcase

[Wandering Eyes]

The reigning Horse of the Year 'TDN Rising Star' MGISW Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) has emerged from her tour de force in Saturday's GII Azeri Stakes, and is on track for an anticipated start in the GI Apple Blossom Apr. 12 at Oaklawn Park.

Having emerged from her seasonal bow in said local prep for the Grade I marquee race for older fillies and mares, she will return to Fair Grounds early this week where trainer Kenny McPeek said she will train this month and 'maybe' into April before returning to Oaklawn for the Apple Blossom.

“She came out of it perfect–absolutely perfect. She'll leave Monday or Tuesday,” reported Ray Bryner, who oversees McPeek's Oaklawn division.

McPeek and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. both said they were impressed with how Thorpedo Anna handled herself before the race, include the delay at the starting gate. The only other time she had ever broken from the rail was the 2024 GI Travers Stakes, where she lost by a diminishing head after “brushing with the near-side stall”, according to the official race chart.

“I think the biggest thing is, we were worried about how she left the gate,” McPeek said. “She left it clean. We've done some extra gate schooling. I think the most impressive thing is that she seems so much more composed the older she's gotten.”

“If you recall last year, she was kind of nervous in the post parade, a little washy, got wet. She seems to have left that behind and I think that's a good thing, right, although it was much cooler [on Saturday]. But any time a horse gets washed out, too nervous, then you concern yourself. But she doesn't seem to be doing it anymore.”

“She's an amazing filly,” Hernandez said after contributing his own praise to the newest dimension the Horse of the Year offered.

Coal Battle's Plans Remain Pending

Fan-favorite GSW Coal Battle (Coal Front) is under consideration for the $1.5-million GI Arkansas Derby Mar. 29 as well as the $1.25-million GI Blue Grass Stakes Apr. 5, but the plans remaining pending, his trainer Lonnie Briley said Sunday morning.

“I'm going to leave it up to him,” Briley said. “If he's ready to run, we'll probably run here [at Oaklawn]. If he's not, I'll wait for the Derby. I mean, they've got some tough horses out there right now, making all these preps and stuff.”

Coal Battle has secured his spot with a victory Feb. 23 in the GII Rebel Stakes and the Listed Smarty Jones Stakes, and currently sits atop the Derby leaderboard with 70 points.

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