3 weeks ago
1 of 2 | Thorpedo Anna (R), ridden by Brian Heernandez Jr., leads thee battalion astatine nan first move connected her measurement to winning nan Kentucky Oaks astatine Churchill Downs successful Louisville, Ky., connected Friday, Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
May 3 (UPI) -- Thorpedo Anna changeable correct to nan lead and kept connected moving to triumph nan $1.5 cardinal Grade I Kentucky Oaks connected Friday astatine Churchill Downs, scoring her 4th triumph successful 5 starts.
The favorite, Just F Y I, past year's 2-year-old filly champion, gave it her champion changeable astatine nan apical of nan stretch, but Thorpedo Anna and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. recovered different cogwheel and pulled distant to triumph by 4 3/4 lengths.
Just F Y I, trained by Kenny McPeek, held 2nd complete late-running Regulatory Risk, pinch Ways and Means fourth. The title was tally complete a sloppy aboveground pinch rainfall drenching nan historical track.
It was nan 150th moving of nan title that's nan 3-year-old filly companion to nan Kentucky Derby. While it lacks nan wider assemblage that pays attraction to nan Derby, nan Oaks is important to nan Thoroughbred breeding industry, wherever nan sport's large money is found.
The title attracted fillies from astir nan country, including first- aliases second-place finishers successful large races from New York, Florida, Louisiana and Kentucky.
"She's 4-for-5 and she's a awesome filly," said Hernandez, who has had nan equine successful each of Thorpedo Anna's starts. "Kenny's said each on really bully of a filly he had present and she's very, very special. She's answered each mobility we've thrown astatine her.
"It's special," said McPeek, who has saddled nan runner-up successful nan title 3 times.
Thorpedo Anna, a girl of Fast Anna, started her profession successful Kentucky, winning her first commencement astatine Keeneland past October by 8 1/2 lengths. She moved connected from that to triumph by going 1 mile astatine Churchill Downs connected Nov 10 -- by 9 lengths.
She was disconnected a measurement successful her stakes debut, nan Grade II Golden Rod, besides astatine Churchill Downs, and settled for second. McPeek waited until March 30 to return Thorpedo Anna to nan races, and she responded pinch a 4-length triumph successful nan Grade II Fantasy astatine Oaklawn Park successful Arkansas, mounting her up for nan Oaks.
Just F Y I, by nan outstanding young sire Justify, nan 2018 Triple Crown winner, won past year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies astatine Santa Anita en way to her divisional Eclipse Award. She suffered her first nonaccomplishment successful nan Grade I Ashland astatine Keeneland successful her only erstwhile commencement this season.
