Churchill Downs Stakes Recap: Longines Kentucky Oaks

May 03, 2024 Gary Yunt

Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, breeder Judy Hicks and Magdalena Racing’s Thorpedo Anna took the lead going into the first turn, repulsed a challenge from favored Just F Y I at the three-sixteenths pole and went on to score a 4 3/4-length victory in the 150th running of the $1.5 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) for 3-year-old fillies Friday afternoon at Churchill Downs before a crowd of 107,236.

Trained by Kenny McPeek and ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., Thorpedo Anna completed the mile and an eighth over a sloppy track in 1:50.83. It is the first victory in the race for McPeek and Hernandez.

The victory gives McPeek and Hernandez the opportunity to complete the Oaks-Kentucky Derby double on Saturday when they team up with Mystik Dan in the Run for the Roses.

The most recent trainer to sweep the Oaks and Derby in the same year was Ben Jones in 1952 with Real Delight and Hill Gail. The most recent rider to complete the double was Calvin Borel in 2009 with Rachel Alexandra and Mine That Bird.

Fiona’s Magic led the field under the finish line the first time, but by the time the fillies reached the first turn Hernandez had Thorpedo Anna in front. Fiona’s Magic tracked in second with Ways and Means racing in the clear third through fractions of :22.87, :46.79 and 1:11.75.

On the far turn. Fiona’s Magic had retreated leaving Ways and Means in closest pursuit but Junior Alvarado had Just F Y I, last year’s champion 2-year-old filly, in high gear three wide.

At the top of the stretch, Just F Y I had dead aim at Thorpedo Anna and pulled on near even terms at the three-sixteenths pole only to have Thorpedo Anna open up again.

Thorpedo Anna is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Fast Anna out of the Uncle Mo mare Sataves. Now a winner of four of five starts, Thorpedo Anna picked up $846,300 for the victory that boosted her earnings to $1,430,663.

Thorpedo Anna returned $10.98, $6.06 and $4.36. Just F Y I returned $5.06 and $3.98 and finished three lengths in front of Regulatory Risk, who paid $11.82 under Jose Ortiz.

It was another 2 ¾ lengths back to Ways and Means, who was followed in order by Everland, Power Squeeze, Into Champagne, Lemon Muffin, Tarifa, Where’s My Ring, Our Pretty Woman, Gin Gin, Leslie’s Rose and Fiona’s Magic.