Appropriately enough, that win likely clinched a second straight Eclipse Award season for Thorpedo Anna, as she takes home the older dirt female division title a year after being named champion 3-year-old filly and Horse of the Year.
“She’s just tough as nails,” trainer Ken McPeek said of her career and that final shining example in the Personal Ensign.
In that 1 1/8 mile test at Saratoga Race CourseThorpedo Anna opened up a clear advantage on the way home, but Dorth Vader gave chase after clearing three other rivals from a group of five that had been nearly in the lead. Dorth Vader engaged Thorpedo Anna in the middle of the fight, but the champion appeared ready for the fight.
Soon the two would make equal strides and Dorth Vader even put a head in front, but Thorpedo Anna, under regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr., would fight back to win the bob on the wire.
In 2024, Thorpedo Anna won six of seven starts, including victories in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and against older females in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1). She never lost a race to any filly or mare, her only loss being a brave second Ferocity in the Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga.
Opening her 4-year-old season at Oaklawn ParkThorpedo Anna kept the ball rolling with dominant wins in the Azeri Stakes (G2) and Apple Blossom Handicap (G1), where she faced rivals from 4-7lb. But a four-race win streak over two seasons would end with an off-the-board finish in the La Troienne Stakes (G1) on the Kentucky Oaks undercard on Churchill Downs after being bumped hard entering the first corner.
The Kentucky-bred daughter of Fast Anna bounced back to win the Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2) at Churchill in late June and then the all-important win in the Personal Ensign before finishing off-the-board in the Spinster Stakes (G1) at Keeneland.
“She had some really good races in 2025. In her wins she was very, very good, especially considering everyone was focused on beating her,” McPeek noted. “She was robbed in La Troienne and in the end it was probably overdone. But I’m really proud of her, proud of how she walked.”
In August, Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings bought half of Thorpedo Anna, while Magdalena Racing, Mark Edwards and breeder Judy Hicks retained interests in the filly. Sataves, the mother of Thorpedo Anna, would be named Broodmare of the Year 2024 by the Thorpedo Owners and Breeders Association. Thorpedo Anna retired in October to begin her broodmare career at Hill ‘n’ Dale.
The other two division finalists were the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1). Scylla and winner of the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1). Splendor .
Correction: The headline of this story has been updated because the original headline contained a factual error.
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