Churchill Downs Update: McPeek Looks to Reignite Season with Thorpedo Anna in Saturday's Fleur de Lis

Jun 27, 2025

Reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna will attempt to return to top form following a troubled seventh-place finish in the $1 million Fasig-Tipton La Troienne (Grade I) when she leads four rivals entered in Saturday’s 50th running of the $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis (GII) at Churchill Downs.

Owned by Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks and Magdalena Racing, Thorpedo Anna was the heavy 2-5 La Troienne favorite but after being bumped repeatedly going into the first turn, she ultimately finished seventh.

“She got pinballed quite a bit going into that first turn,” trainer Kenny McPeek said. “It looks like it took the breath out of her. That’s really all we could figure out that happened. Talking to Brian Hernandez Jr., he said she got hit pretty good. Any way you look at it, she didn’t run well. The best laid plans didn’t work out.

“In the meantime, we’ve just sort of taken our time and it’s been nearly two months since her last run and we’re really optimistic she can get back to her top form.”

The 4-year-old daughter of Fast Anna had a tremendous 3-year-old season capped by victories in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI), Acorn (GI), Coaching Club American Oaks (GI), Cotillion (GI) and Breeders’ Cup Distaff (GI).

Thorpedo Anna began her 2025 campaign with victories in the Azeri (GII) and Apple Blossom (GI) at Oaklawn prior to her disappointing effort in the La Troienne.

“It was obviously disappointing what transpired in the La Troienne but we’re really looking forward to her getting back to form in Saturday’s race,” Hernandez said. “She’s trained well since in the mornings and we know the caliber of horse she is.”

The Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis is one of six stakes contests on the spectacular 12-race program headlined by the $1 million Stephen Foster (GI) in Race 7.

The Fleur de Lis will go as Race 7 at 3:52 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post is 12:45 p.m.

Aside from the Stephen Foster and Fleur de Lis, the program also will include the $500,000 Wise Dan (GII); $250,000 Kelly’s Landing (GIII); $250,000 American Derby (Listed); and $250,000 Tepin (Listed).

The field for the Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):

Royal Spa (Flavien Prat, Rodolphe Brisset, 4-1)
Save Time (Irad Ortiz Jr., Saffie Joseph Jr., 20-1)
Thorpedo Anna (Hernandez, McPeek, 3-5)
Gin Gin (Jose Ortiz, Brendan Walsh, 7-2)
Taxed (Rafael Bejarano, Randy Morse, 9-2)
The Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series where the winner will receive an all-entry fee paid berth to the $2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (GI) on Saturday, Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

Fans can watch and wager on all the action from Stephen Foster day at www.twinspires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated.

ASMUSSEN POISED FOR BIG CLOSING WEEKEND WITH 22 ENTRIES ACROSS FINAL THREE DAYS – Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen’s barn will be bustling with action across the final three days of the Churchill Downs Spring Meet with 22 horses entered including stable stars Booth in the $250,000 Kelly’s Landing (GIII), Tiztastic in the $250,000 American Derby (Listed) and Lagynos in the $500,000 Wise Dan (GII).

Booth, a speedy son of Mitole, will ride a four-race win streak into the Kelly’s Landing and is tabbed as the 2-1 morning line favorite.

“He shows a lot of Mitole obviously with his talent, speed and how he is away from the gates,” Asmussen said. “He’s a lovely horse and comes into the race with a four-race win streak and hoping to add to it.”

Stablemate Otto the Conqueror is also entered in the race and will attempt to win his first start since his 3-year-old season.

“We’re trying to get ‘Otto’ back in form,” Asmussen said. “He has three wins here at Churchill Downs but as a 4-year-old he has not matched his 3-year-old form to date.”

Run at 6 ½ furlongs, the Kelly’s Landing will go as the ninth race on the 12-race program at 4:58 p.m.

One race later in the Wise Dan, Asmussen will saddle the ultra-consistent Lagynos as he attempts to turn the tables on likely favorite Brilliant Berti.

“He’s been very competitive and does have a graded stakes win over this turf course in the Commonwealth,” Asmussen said. “On the turf, the trip is just so important. He has a better draw this time and hopefully will sit a better trip.”

The Wise Dan, run at 1 1/16 miles on turf, was carded as Race 10 with post time of 5:31 p.m.

In the finale on Saturday, Tiztastic will return to the turf as the 5-2 morning line favorite in the American Derby (Listed) after finishing 10th in Kentucky Derby 151.

“We’re just trying to get him back in the winner’s circle,” Asmussen noted. “He accomplished a lot last year on the turf with at Kentucky Downs. He had a nice win in the Louisiana Derby (GII) but his affinity for the turf and the rest of the summer with a lot of money available on there, this was a good starting point.”

The American Derby, run at 1 1/16 miles, goes at 6:32 p.m.

TWINSPIRES OFFERS EXCLUSIVE PAYOUT GUARANTEE ON DERBY CITY 6 JACKPOT – TwinSpires, the official online betting provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated, is guaranteeing the Derby City 6 Jackpot single-ticket payout up to $2 million on Friday, an exclusive offer for a single-ticket winner who bets the sequence through TwinSpires.com, the TwinSpires iOS application, or TwinSpires Android application.

Friday’s Derby City 6 Jackpot stood at a massive $1,265,688. If there is a unique winning ticket belonging to a TwinSpires customer, that lucky bettor’s payout will be boosted to $2 million (subject to any applicable tax withholding).

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

Race 6 (3:18 p.m.): Alw 50000s, f&m, 6 ½ F (eight runners)
Race 7 (3:51 p.m.): Clm 50000n2L, 3&up, 6 F (10 runners)
Race 8 (4:23 p.m.): Alw 127000n1x, f&m, 1 1/16 M (nine runners)
Race 9 (4:55 p.m.): OC 80000n2x, 3&up, 5 ½ F (T) (12 runners)
Race 10 (5:27 p.m.): OC 100000n3x, f&m, 6 F (10 runners)
Race 11 (5:58 p.m.): Mdn 120k, 3&up, 6 ½ F (12 runners)
Track conditions were Fast/Firm as of 11 a.m. with the temporary rail on the Matt Winn Turf Course set in Lane 3, 24 feet from the inside.

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.

Sunday’s card will feature mandatory payout in all wagers.

ALL-STAKES DERBY CITY 6 TO BE OFFERED SATURDAY – Churchill Downs will offer an all-stakes Derby City 6 Jackpot, Late Pick 5, Late Pick 4 and a special $3 All-Turf Pick 3 as part of its wagering menu Saturday. The all-stakes Derby City 6 will cover Races 7-12 starting at 3:52 p.m., which will encompass the Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis (Race 7), Tepin (Race 8), Kelly’s Landing (Race 9), Wise Dan (Race 10), Stephen Foster (Race 11) and American Derby (Race 12). All told, there will be four Pick 5s (Races 1-5, Races 4-8, Races 6-10 and Races 8-12) and three Pick 4s (Races 2-5, Races 5-8 and Races 9-12) on the card. Both the Pick 4 and Pick 5 are 50-cent minimum bets. The Derby City 6 Jackpot is a 20-cent minimum. The All-Turf Pick 3 will encompass the Tepin (Race 8), Wise Dan (Race 10) and American Derby (Race 12).

SPECIAL ALL TURF PICK 3 OFFERED CLOSING WEEKEND – A special $3 All-Turf Pick 3 has been added to the wagering menu for Saturday and Sunday’s cards at Churchill Downs, the final two days of the 43-day Spring Meet.

The $3 All-Turf Pick 3 will have an all-stakes sequence for the Saturday’s card and feature the $500,000 Wise Dan (Grade II), $250,000 American Derby (Listed) and $250,000 Tepin Stakes (Listed).

The bet will have a horseplayer-friendly 15-percent takeout and be available to bet on track at Churchill Downs, simulcast and ADW outlets across North America and www.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated.

The Saturday sequence will begin with the Tepin Stakes in Race 8 at 4:25 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post is 12:45 p.m.

Sunday’s wager begins in Race 5 at 2:46 p.m. The sequence includes a wide-open field of allowance horses (Race 5, 11 entries), the $175,000 Anchorage Overnight Stakes (Race 9, nine entries) and an uber-competitive cast in a maiden special weight (Race 12, 12 entries plus three also-eligibles).

Along with the $3 All-Turf Pick 3, the closing day will include mandatory payouts in all wagers.

For more information about the Churchill Downs Spring Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com

FOSTER WIN AND YOU’RE IN – The 44th running of the $1 million Stephen Foster (Grade I) is part of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series. The winner of the 1 1/8-mile race for 4-year-olds and up will earn a spot in the starting gate for the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) at Del Mar on Saturday, Nov. 1. Also, the winner’s entry fees to the Classic will be paid and will receive a travel stipend if based outside the state of Kentucky. The Foster is the first domestic “Win and You’re In” race for the Classic, and has been a part of the “Win and You’re In” series since 2013. Four horses have won the Stephen Foster and the Breeders’ Cup Classic in the same year. Black Tie Affair (1991) and Awesome Again (1998) won both races at Churchill Downs. Saint Liam (2005) won his running of the Classic at Belmont Park. Gun Runner (2017) won his Classic at Del Mar. Additionally, Fort Larned won the Classic in 2012 at Santa Anita and returned to his home base to win the 2013 Stephen Foster.

HORSE OF THE YEAR – Four horses used victories in the Stephen Foster as part of their resumés in Horse of the Year campaigns: Black Tie Affair (1991), Saint Liam (2005), Curlin (2008) and Gun Runner (2017). In addition, two Foster runner-ups were crowned Horse of the Year: Mineshaft (2003) and Wise Dan (2012).

FOSTER STAKES RECORD – Victory Gallop owns the stakes record for 1 1/8 miles of 1:47.28 established in 1999. That also was the track record until 4-year-old Gould’s Gold, trained by Kenny McPeek and owned by 4 G Racing LLC, Lance Gasaway and Magdalena Racing, ran 1 1/8 miles under Brian Hernandez Jr. in 1:47.26 earlier this meet on May 17. Canadian-bred Victory Gallop, owned by Prestonwood Farm LLC and trained by Elliott Walden, won the 1999 Foster as a 4-year-old by five lengths while carrying Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey and 120 pounds, 10 more than runner-up Nite Dreamer. Littlebitlively was another three-quarters of a length back in third. Silver Charm, the 1997 Kentucky Derby winner, was another 2 ¾ lengths back in fourth.

FOSTER JOCKEYS – Pat Day and Robby Albarado have won the Stephen Foster three times to lead all riders. Day’s Foster victories came in 1985 (Vanlandingham), 1998 (Awesome Again) and 2003 (Perfect Drift). Albarado won the race three consecutive years in 2007 (Flashy Bull), 2008 (Curlin) and 2009 (Macho Again). Jockeys in this year’s field with previous Foster wins: Florent Geroux (2017 Gun Runner), Brian Hernandez Jr. (2013 Fort Larned), Jose Ortiz (2021 Maxfield), Flavien Prat (2023 West Will Power) and Luis Saez (2024 Kingsbarns). Julien Leparoux and Irad Ortiz Jr. seek their first Foster wins.

FOSTER TRAINERS – Eight trainers have won the Stephen Foster twice: Forrest Kaelin (1982-83 with Vodika Collins); Jere Smith Jr. (1994-95 with Recoup The Cash); Pat Byrne (1997-98 with City by Night and Awesome Again); Mark Casse (2011 with Pool Play and 2015 with Noble Bird); Steve Asmussen (2008 with Curlin and 2017 with Gun Runner); Dallas Stewart (2009 with Macho Again and 2019 with Seeking the Soul); Al Stall Jr. (2010 with Blame and 2020 with Tom’s d’Etat); and Bill Mott (2012 with Ron the Greek and 2023 with Olympiad). Trainers in this year’s field with previous Foster wins: Brad Cox (2023 West Will Power) and Todd Pletcher (2024 Kingsbarns). Chad Brown, Saffie Joseph Jr., Wayne Lukas and Kenny McPeek seek their first Foster victories.

ENGRAVED KENTUCKY DERBY 151 TROPHIES TO BE PRESENTED SATURDAY – The connections from Team Sovereignty – owner/breeder Godolphin; trainer Bill Mott; and jockey Junior Alvarado – will be at Churchill Downs on Saturday to accept their newly-engraved Kentucky Derby 151 trophies for the colt’s thrilling victory on May 3. The ceremony in the Woodford Reserve Winner’s Circle is scheduled after Race 9 at approximately 4:58 p.m. The Oaks ceremony for Good Cheer – owner/breeder Godolphin; trainer Brad Cox; and Luis Saez – will be in the winner’s circle after Race 8 at approximately 4:25 p.m.

FUTURE STARS OFTEN EMERGE FROM CHURCHILL DOWNS’ CLOSING DAY 2-YEAR-OLD MAIDEN – The first six-furlong $120,000 maiden special weight for 2-year-olds on the year at Churchill Downs is Sunday’s fourth race on closing day. The winner of the race has gone on to win a graded stakes event eight times in the last 19 years, including 2005 Hopeful (GI) winner First Samurai; 2009 Forego (GI) winner Pyro; 2009 Iroquois (GIII) winner Theskyhasnolimit; 2010 Sanford (GII) winner Maybesomaybenot; 2014 Dominion Day (GIII) winner Sky Captain; 2016 Sanford (GIII) winner Bitumen; 2021 Hopeful (GI) winner Gunite; and 2022 Saratoga Special (GII) winner Damon’s Mound. Last year’s winner was the Dale Romans-trained Keep It Easy ($48.58), who’d finish last of eight after a bad stumble in the Saratoga Special (GII) at 5-2. He’d go on to win the $225,000 Ed Brown Stakes by 5 ¼ lengths last fall. The favored fifth-place finisher in last year's six-furlong maiden was Sandman, who later won this year’s $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (GI) before finishing seventh in the Kentucky Derby and third in the Preakness.

DOWN THE STRETCH – Jockey Corey Lanerie began Friday tied with Calvin Borel’s second all-time win total at Churchill Downs, each having 1,232 wins. Lanerie had mounts in Races 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10 and 11. Lanerie and Borel are far behind all-time leader Pat Day with 2,482 victories. … “Inside Churchill Downs” will preview all the action for Stephen Foster Day Friday at 6 p.m. on ESPN 680/105.7. Join Churchill Downs’ Darren Rogers and Kevin Kerstein for the final episode of the show for the Churchill Downs Spring Meet. Those outside the Louisville area can stream live on www.espnlouisville.com. … For more information on the Churchill Downs Spring Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com.