Not even a slow start could slow the momentum of reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna as she notched her fourth consecutive victory in the $1.25 million Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap April 12 at Oaklawn Park. The brilliant 4-year-old filly recovered from a tardy beginning to score a popular 4 1/4-length victory over five outclassed foes.

Tracking splits of :23.47 and :46.74 set by Wild Bout Hilary in the 1 1/16-mile Apple Blossom, Thorpedo Anna effortlessly took over after six furlongs in 1:11.22 and sped away in the stretch. She was clocked in 1:44.27 on a fast track under regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr..

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Louisiana-bred multimillionaire Free Like a Girl ran second, just as she had when facing Thorpedo Anna a start earlier in the Grade 2 Azeri Stakes March 8 at Oaklawn. Where's My Ring was 1 1/2 lengths farther back in third. Neom Beach, Wild Bout Hilary, and Sweet Alyssa completed the order of finish.

Thorpedo Anna, who spotted her foes between four and seven pounds apiece as the high weight in the Apple Blossom, paid $2.40 for a $2 win bet.

Winning trainer Kenny McPeek acknowledged some nerves about starting such a heavy favorite. "There's such expectations but you'd rather be the favorite than (a) long shot, I suppose, to get it done.

"I wished every horse trainer in America and even jockey could have a horse like her, to be around a horse like her," McPeek continued. "I mean, I've worked all my career to try to find those kind of horses and she really does make our job easy. She's not complicated. She loves to eat. She loves to train. She's a real pleasure to be around. I mean, she's just great."

Racing fans may not need to wait long to see Thorpedo Anna in racing action again. McPeek has his stable star pointed toward the $1 million Grade 1 Fasig-Tipton La Troienne Stakes on May 2 at Churchill Downs.

"I've always believed in racing my horses. All my career, I've never been fearful of doing that," McPeek said. "I think three weeks (rest) she'll handle fine. As long as everything's good with her physically and she comes out of it like we expect, I think you'll see her at Churchill Downs."

Just as Oaklawn fans welcomed Thorpedo Anna, those at Churchill Downs will likely do the same. In one of her most significant victories from her championship season as a 3-year-old filly in 2024, she won the Grade 1 Longines Kentucky Oaks there by 4 3/4 lengths before a crowd of more than 107,000.

Thorpedo Anna is a 4-year-old daughter of Fast Anna out of the Uncle Mo mare Sataves. McPeek trains her for owners Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, Magdalena Racing, and her breeder, Judy Hicks. McPeek paid $40,000 for Thorpedo Anna from the Grovendale Sales consignment to the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale.

Her earnings now stand at $4,814,913.