McPeek satisfied with Thorpedo Anna’s first work since Kentucky Oaks victory

While her Kenny McPeek-trained stablemate Mystik Dan prepares for the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore, Kentucky Oaks heroine Thorpedo Anna got back on the work tab early Thursday morning at Churchill Downs.

Thorpedo Anna, who came to the track as it opened at 5:30 a.m., breezed a half-mile in 48 seconds flat with jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr. - who will travel to Baltimore to ride Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan in the Preakness - in the saddle. Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols caught the filly galloping out five furlongs in 1:00.60.

McPeek, speaking at the Pimlico stakes barn on Thursday, termed the work a “nice, happy half,” adding that assistant trainer Greg Geier, who oversaw the work, delivered a positive report.

McPeek, who won the 2020 Preakness with the filly Swiss Skydiver, said that in “any other year,” he might have looked at this year's race with Thorpedo Anna. But with Hernandez the jockey for both horses, Thorpedo Anna will instead target major events in her division, beginning with the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes, this year at 1 1/8 miles on June 7 at Saratoga.

McPeek said Thorpedo Anna has bounced back nicely from her effort on a sloppy, sealed track in the May 3 Oaks, in which she pulled away from Just F Y I late to complete a wire-to-wire, 4 3/4-length victory.

“She's killing it,” McPeek said. “She's been eating great, they can't hold her down in the shedrow.”

Meanwhile, Hernandez, who spent time at the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville on Thursday, was to ride the twilight card at Churchill Downs on Thursday night before traveling to Baltimore for stakes mounts at Pimlico both Friday and Saturday.

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