Thorpedo Anna wins the 2024 $2 million Breeders Cup Distaff at Del Mar. (Alex Evers/Eclipse Sportswire)
Thorpedo Anna capped a sensational 3-year-old campaign with an emphatic score over older rivals in the $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff Nov. 2 at Del Mar. She led the way gate-to-wire as the 2-5 favorite under jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. to land her fifth Grade 1 stakes victory of 2024.
As he stood amid the congratulatory chaos of the winner's circle moments after Thorpedo Anna had won Distaff, trainer Kenny McPeek needed a moment for himself. The scene must have felt like slow motion as everyone around him basked in the filly's success. McPeek brought his right thumb and index finger to his eyes, clearing the tears that had begun to build up.
McPeek downplayed the emotions of the moment. He could have said it was the sun or dirt in his eyes, but instead, he chalked it up as a proud parent moment.
"Anytime you run a horse like her it's emotional," McPeek said.
For someone who has done as much as McPeek has in this sport — he's one of five trainers to win all three Triple Crown races — there was still a glaring unchecked box on his resume. He had never before won a Breeders' Cup race.
McPeek had plenty of near misses. Seven seconds in Breeders' Cup action, six coming on the opening day of the world championships. Nine of his 10 third-place finishes also came on Future Stars Friday.
"This is a humbling business," he said. "It's not something you can ever expect. I was actually proud of a lot of the seconds and thirds I'd had at the Breeders Cup."
Now, McPeek can look at his stable and know with confidence it is home to arguably the biggest star in Thoroughbred racing on any day of the week. With the Breeders' Cup Distaff win, Thorpedo Anna is at the very least in the conversation for Horse of the Year.
Breaking from the second post, jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. took Thorpedo Anna straight to the front and dared anyone to keep up with her. Raging Sea and Flavien Prat showed fine form chasing Thorpedo Anna for most of the race within a half a length through the opening three-quarters of a mile while Thorpedo Anna posted fractional times of :23.81, :47.99, and 1:12.01. Riding the rail the whole way, Hernandez gave Thorpedo Anna the green light as they whipped around the final turn and began their march toward home. She then was able put distance between her and Raging Sea with a furlong left to the wire.
Thorpedo Anna ultimately crossed the wire first by a winning margin of 2 1/2 lengths in a time of 1:49.10. Raging Sea raced second all the way. Candied finished third, Alice Verite was fourth, and Sugar Fish ended in fifth. Thorpedo Anna paid $2.80 for a $2 win ticket.
The Distaff field lost some of its stronger contenders before the race when last year's winner and champion older dirt female Idiomatic and undefeated Japanese shipper Awesome Result both scratched.
Thorpedo Anna improved her record to 6-1-0 from seven starts this year with $3,653,050 in earnings. For her career, she is 8-2-0 from 10 starts with $3,843,663 in the bank.
McPeek said the plan is to bring Thorpedo Anna back to race next year after she gets some well-deserved time off from racing.
"We'll look at all the options. We wouldn't mind taking her to the Pegasus (World Cup at Gulfstream), Dubai (World Cup), Saudi (Cup)," McPeek said. "We're going to keep a close eye on the Classic here today and let's see that group of horses compete, see what else is out there. She certainly at this stage can fit against any of them."
2024 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff November 2nd, 2024
