Churchill Downs News Updates: Thorpedo Anna Fires Sharp Work Ahead of Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis

Jun 20, 2025

Thorpedo Anna, the reigning Horse of the Year and Kentucky Oaks 150 winner, completed her major preparation for the $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis (Grade II) on June 28 with a swift half-mile move in :47.80 Friday morning at Churchill Downs under jockey Brian Hernandez Jr.

Trained by Kenny McPeek, Thorpedo Anna is expected to headline the Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis, one of six stakes on a loaded card that includes the $1 million Stephen Foster (GI).

In her most recent start, the 4-year-old daughter of Fast Anna encountered trouble into the first turn and finished seventh in the Fasig-Tipton La Troienne (GI).

Campaigned in partnership by Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks and Magdalena Racing, Thorpedo Anna went to the track Friday at 7:15 a.m. ET and posted an opening quarter mile in :23.60. She galloped out five furlongs in a solid 1:00.40, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.

One of her likely rivals, Richard Bahde’s Taxed, also worked Friday. The multiple graded stakes winner breezed a half mile in :48.20 under Rafael Bejarano. A consistent performer throughout her 23-race career, the 5-year-old mare has compiled five wins, five seconds, and five third-place finishes with nearly $1.1 million in earnings.

Entries for the Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis and the full Stephen Foster Day program will be drawn Saturday.

DERBY CITY 6 JACKPOT BLOSSOMS TO $854,231 – Horseplayers will be chasing a massive $854,231 carryover in the 20-cent Derby City 6 Jackpot Friday night at Churchill Downs for the competitive sequence beginning in Race 4.

Friday’s sequence: (with field size as of 10:30 a.m.)

Race 4 (2:13 p.m.): Clm 16000, 4&up, 1 M (six runners)
Race 5 (2:45 p.m.): Mcl 40000, f&m, 7 F (nine runners)
Race 6 (3:18 p.m.): Alw 127000n2x, 3&up, 1 1/16 M (T) (eight runners)
Race 7 (3:50 p.m.): Clm 20000n2x, 3&up, 1 M (nine runners)
Race 8 (4:22 p.m.): OC 80000n2x, 3&up, 1 1/16 M (T) (six runners)
Race 9 (4:55 p.m.): Clm 40000n2L, 3&up, 6 ½ F (nine runners)
Track conditions were Fast/Firm as of 10:30 a.m. with the temporary rail on the Matt Winn Turf Course set in Lane 4, 36 feet from the inside. Summer temperatures are on the rise in Louisville with sunny skies and forecasted highs of 88, 93 and 95 Friday-Sunday, respectively, according to the National Weather Service.

The Derby City 6 Jackpot tests bettors to correctly select all six winners, and if they have the only winning combination, they will take down the entire jackpot. If there are multiple winning combinations, 90 percent of the day’s pool is paid out with the other 10 percent going to the carryover. If there are no correct combinations, the entire day’s pool will be added to the jackpot.

DOWN THE STRETCH – Friday’s work tab at Churchill Downs included Harvy A. Clarke Racing Stables’ Preakness (GI) runner-up Gosger, who breezed a half-mile in :48.40 for trainer Brendan Walsh. The colt is targeting the July 19 Haskell Stakes (GI) at Monmouth Park. … Churchill Downs leading rider Jose Ortiz is slated to ride Clever Again in Saturday’s $500,000 Ohio Derby (GIII) at Thistledown. Originally, Ortiz was scheduled to miss Friday’s card to ride at Penn National but following their second postponement of their four lucrative stakes due to inclement weather, he will ride one horse at Churchill Downs: Synthesis in Race 4. … Jockey Declan Cannon reported he hopes to get back on horses next week and return to action at Ellis Park. Cannon was injured when his mount, Rebel Red (GB), clipped heels during the Louisville Stakes (GIII). … Jockey Chris Landeros will now be represented by Frank Bernis, who also takes calls for Brian Hernandez Jr. … Jockey Irving Moncada is entering the final 30 days of his apprenticeship. He will become a journeyman Sunday, July 20. … Southern California-based trainer Mark Glatt is expected to ship in several runners for closing weekend at Churchill Downs. He’ll be stabled in Barn 37. … Jockey Corey Lanerie needs three wins to tie and four to surpass Calvin Borel for the second all-time leading rider in Churchill Downs history. Borel, who’s currently riding at Louisiana Downs, holds the No. 2 spot with 1,232 victories. Pat Day is the all-time record holder with 2,482 victories. … For more information about the Churchill Downs Spring Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com.