Reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna, winner of the 2024 Kentucky Oaks (G1), received a clean bill of health from Dr. Larry Bramlage at the Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital May 5 after an uncharacteristic last-place finish in the La Troienne Stakes (G1) May 2 at Churchill Downs.
That finish is what prompted trainer Kenny McPeek to send the 4-year-old filly to Dr. Bramlage.
McPeek told Thoroughbred Daily News that Bramlage did not find anything wrong with the reigning Horse of the Year. "At this point, she has a clean bill of health," McPeek said.
Thorpedo Anna last year also won the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) and was second in the Travers Stakes (G1) against the boys. The seventh-place finish May 2 was her first time outside of the top two in 13 career races. She finished 8 1/2 lengths behind Raging Sea.
McPeek believes the reason Thorpedo Anna ran so poorly is that she was squeezed and bumped between Dorth Vader and Randomized entering the first turn. He thinks that is where she lost the race, but never did he imagine she would finish last.
"It looks like they beat her up going into the first turn. I don't know what that was about," McPeek said after the race. "I'm shocked like the rest of us."
The day after the La Troienne, McPeek alluded to that first turn as well as a 20-day turnaround after winning the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn Park.
"The first turn incident may have thrown her off her game, or maybe the three-week turnaround wasn't my best choice," McPeek said on social media platform X. "She showed no signs she couldn't handle that. I'm more critical of myself than anyone.
Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. also thought the recency of the La Troienne after the Apple Blossom could have been the root cause of the finish."
"Down the lane, she was just a little tired," he said after the race. "Maybe the last race over there at Oaklawn coming back quick today, it took a little steam out of her."
"She got the kind of trip we envisioned, but it was just one of those situations where today wasn't her day."
The trainer said it would likely be close to two months before she races again.
"We'll look at the Fleur de Lis or something in New York. We'll ease her back into things," he told TDN. Thorpedo Anna is 10-2-0 from 13 starts with $4,824,913 in earnings.
The daughter of Fast Anna races for owners Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, Sherri McPeek's Magdalena Racing, and breeder Judy Hicks.
