Horsin' Around: Thorpedo Anna Makes History, Pegasus Preview

Thorpedo Anna is in rarified air. The Kenny McPeek filly who dominated her division now has a new title, Horse of the Year.

The Eclipse Awards are The Oscars of Horse Racing. The honor Horse of the Year is typically bestowed upon a male. Thorpedo Anna became just the 12th female horse to earn that title since 1887. She’s the first filly to win Horse of the Year since 2011, which capped off three straight years of female winners: Havre de Grace, Zenyatte, and Rachel Alexandra. The latter is the only other three-year-old filly to win the award.

Thorpedo Anna was absolutely dominant in 2024. She was beaten only once, losing by a head to the boys in the Travers Stakes. Kenny McPeek’s filly won six graded stakes, most notably the Kentucky Oaks and the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. McPeek finished second to Chad Brown as Trainer of the Year. Brown’s Sierra Leone was the runner-up to Thorpedo Anna as Horse of the Year.

“Thanks for this. It’s been a fantastic ride and it’s only starting,” McPeek said as he accepted the Eclipse Award. “She’s going to keep running.”

Thorpedo Anna is currently training at Gulfstream Park. You can expect to see her on race cards this March.

Pegasus World Cup Preview

The first Big Money Day in horse racing is this Saturday at Gulfstream Park for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup. NBC is bringing its A-team for the national broadcast, which starts at 4:30 pm EST ahead of the 5:40 pm EST post time for the marquee race.

The field of 12 horses is filled with familiar names with more than $20 million in career earnings. Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan will garner plenty of attention, but let’s be honest with one another. You shouldn’t waste your money on this horse. He’s an allowance horse who got an all-time trip on the first Saturday in May. He ran a slow 6th in his only start since his failed Triple Crown campaign.

One other horse to fade is White Abarrio. He almost won Horse of the Year in 2023 after taking home the Whitney and the Breeders’ Cup Classic. In the four starts since, his only win is in an allowance. This goose is cooked. There are two horses who I believe can win it at a great price.

1. Saudi Crown is a frontrunner who has an excellent post position in this race. The Brad Cox horse hasn’t won the biggest G1s in the world, but this is familiar territory. The moment won’t be too big for this horse. With a solid start, Saudi Crown could just go wire-to-wire.

2. Stronghold has a real bridesmaid feel to him as well. I’ve always wondered if it had enough class to win a race of this caliber. The Santa Anita Derby winner did it against a light field and has since finished in the money, just not in first. He had an impressive speed figure last time out and could take another step forward in the second off the layoff. This is an across-the-board play that could win some money even with a second or third-place finish.