Thorpedo Anna

Thorpedo Anna (foaled January 28, 2021) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who in 2024 won five Grade I races: the Kentucky Oaks, Acorn Stakes, Coaching Club American Oaks, Cotillion Handicap and Breeders' Cup Distaff. As a result of her accomplishments, she became just the second three-year-old filly in history (after Rachel Alexandra in 2009) to be named American Horse of the Year.

Background

Thorpedo Anna is a dark bay mare who was bred by Judy Hicks in Kentucky. Thorpedo Anna is out of the unraced Uncle Mo mare Sataves, by the Medaglia d'Oro son Fast Anna. She comes from the same mare family that produced Eskendereya.

She was named after a local Louisville swimmer.

With a win the following day in the 150th Kentucky Derby with Mystik Dan, Kenneth McPeek became the first trainer since 1952 to win the Derby and the Kentucky Oaks in the same year. Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. was aboard both horses for their respective wins.

In December 2024, Thorpedo Anna's sequestrum was successfully removed through the jaw procedure at the Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital.

In August 2025, it was announced ahead of Thorpedo Anna's next expected start in the Personal Ensign Stakes that Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa had acquired a half interest in the horse, purchasing the stake from Brookdale Racing owner Nader Al A'Ali. As part of the transaction, former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch took a minority interest in the horse.

The 2025 Personal Ensign was the final win of Thorpedo Anna's career. Her last race was a fourth-place finish in the Spinster Stakes at Keeneland in early October, with jockey Flavien Prat substituting for injured rider Brian Hernandez Jr.

Retirement

A few days after the Spinster, trainer Ken McPeek told FanDuel TV that Thorpedo Anna would undergo a thorough examination at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington. He said that he would wait for the opinion of examining veterinarian Dr. Larry Bramlage, but the notion was that the Spinster "was probably her last race." One week later in an official press release, McPeek announced that Thorpedo Anna had some "very mild bone bruising," and while she could have returned to training in 90 days, the decision was made to retire her. She will become a broodmare at Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, with a 20% share auctioned off prior to the Breeders' Cup.

Statistics

Notes: An (*) asterisk after the odds means Thorpedo Anna was the post-time favourite.

Pedigree