Thorpedo Anna, after Azeri triumph, looks to Apple Blossom Handicap

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Trainer Kenny McPeek’s canine best friend Sonny spent Sunday morning enjoying the spoils of Thorpedo Anna’s victory in the Grade 2, $400,000 Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

The reigning Horse of the Year was an authoritative winner of Saturday’s race, storming home by 3 1/2 lengths to earn a Beyer Speed Figure of 95 in her first start since winning the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. McPeek on Sunday morning said Thorpedo Anna emerged from the race in excellent condition and is to ship back to her Fair Grounds base early Monday.

As for Sonny, it was a weekend to remember. He rolled onto the Oaklawn apron Friday morning to watch Thorpedo Anna gallop, emerging like a rock star from the back of a white Mercedes SUV with a bumper sticker that read “I like Kentucky-bred Mystik Dan.”

The fun continued at some Hot Springs hot spots Saturday night, after Thorpedo Anna set the pace, turned back a bid from Free Like a Girl, and rattled home to a clear win in the Azeri.

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“Sonny got to go to the Cross Walk last night and celebrate with us and Sonny got to go to Lost Creek Grill and celebrated with us and now Sonny’s eating a T-bone from dinner last night,” McPeek said. “He’s happy.”

So is Thorpedo Anna.

“She’s great,” McPeek said Sunday morning. “Everything’s ice cold. She ate up. No problems.”

McPeek said that, provided Thorpedo Anna remains in good order, the plan is to return to Oaklawn for the Grade 1, $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on April 12.

As for the rest of her 4-year-old campaign, the stakes that will make it up are to be determined, McPeek said.

“One race at a time,” he said. “She’s like the gift that keeps giving. She’s been such a pleasure to be around and we’re enjoying every moment. That’s all you can do.”

McPeek was pleased with several aspects of Thorpedo Anna’s return race in the Azeri.

“Just how workmanlike it was,” he said. “She’s just so professional. I’ve said all along, she makes our job real easy.”

McPeek said he also was pleased with the composure Thorpedo Anna showed leading up to the race. The field was saddled in an inside paddock on a cold, wet afternoon in which an estimated crowd of 33,000 packed the grandstand at Oaklawn.

“We paddock-schooled her Friday,” McPeek said. “We just did it under tack. I was worried maybe we’ll get her in there [Saturday] and she’ll get nervous. She didn’t turn a hair. So that was pretty good. Those things you watch.

“She’s easy at this stage. She knows the game. In the post parade, she was bouncing, dancing the whole time.”

Thorpedo Anna further kept her composure when a rival flipped in the starting gate and was scratched. The field had to be backed out and reloaded. Thorpedo Anna then broke on top in the Azeri.

It was the perfect start to a season that has Sonny dreaming of more fun to come.

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