Keeneland Barn Notes: Thorpedo Anna Has Entered the Building

(Thorpedo Anna / Photos by Holly M. Smith)

From the Keeneland Media Team / Amy Owens:

• HORSE OF THE YEAR THORPEDO ANNA IS REACQUAINTED WITH KEENELAND IN ADVANCE OF SUNDAY’S JUDDMONTE SPINSTER
• NITROGEN ARRIVES FOR JUDDMONTE SPINSTER TEST
• SATURDAY WORK TAB
• UTAH BEACH HEADLINES FIELD OF 11 FOR $400,000 SYCAMORE
• ABOUT THE BRONZE STATUES AT THE NEW STAKES WINNER’S CIRCLE
• PROSPECTIVE FIELDS FOR UPCOMING STAKES
• OPENING WEEKEND SPECIAL EVENTS

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HORSE OF THE YEAR THORPEDO ANNA IS REACQUAINTED WITH KEENELAND IN ADVANCE OF SUNDAY’S JUDDMONTE SPINSTER

After arriving from trainer Kenny McPeek’s Churchill Downs base on Thursday afternoon, reigning Horse of the YearThorpedo Anna was reacquainted with Keeneland Friday morning. With former jockey Robby Albarado aboard, the 4-year-old filly strolled around Keeneland’s new Saddling Paddock before a long clockwise jog followed by a counterclockwise gallop.

Thorpedo Anna is the 8-5 favorite in the field of five for Sunday’s $650,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1) for fillies and mares. McPeek won the race with Take Charge Lady in 2002 and 2003.

Thorpedo Anna is the first reigning Horse of the Year to race at Keeneland since double honoree Wise Dan returned here in 2013 and 2014.

“Everywhere she goes, she walks in like she owns it,” McPeek said. “She is unfazed by (everything). To bring her back here at this stage in the Spinster, it’s just a real special race to run in. We didn’t think she needed any Paddock schooling — we could have brought her over the morning of the race — but I do think she settled in here and jumped into the feed tub last night. We still have a couple of days until we run, but it’s nice to have her here.”

Nearly two years ago at Keeneland, Thorpedo Anna began her career by scoring an 8½-length win under regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr. In the Juddmonte Spinster, Flavien Prat will substitute for the sidelined Hernandez.

Thorpedo Anna, who is owned by John G. Sikura’s Hill ‘n’ Dale Thoroughbred Holdings, Sherri McPeek’s Magdalena Racing, Mark Edwards and breeder Judy Hicks, who was in attendance Friday morning, has banked $5.4 million in a 15-race career. She has won 12 races and been runner-up twice.

“Certainly, she is the most popular horse I have ever trained,” McPeek said. “Swiss Skydiver (who was second in the 2020 Toyota Blue Grass at Keeneland, won the Preakness-G1 and was the year’s champion 3-year-old filly) was a fantastic filly. I thought I’d never find a better filly than Take Charge Lady (who never lost at Keeneland), but Swiss Skydiver was. And now this one. I might be getting a reputation with the girls.”

On Saturday, Thorpedo Anna is expected to have a similar routine with a Saddling Paddock walk and on-track gallop around 7:30 a.m.

The Juddmonte Spinster, which will be run for the 70^th time, is part of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” series that offers a guaranteed starting spot and travel expenses to Del Mar for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) on Nov. 1.

Thorpedo Anna won last year’s Distaff at Del Mar en route to Eclipse Awards as Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old filly.

NITROGEN ARRIVES FOR JUDDMONTE SPINSTER TEST

D.J. Stable’s Nitrogen, one of the leading contenders for divisional honors among 3-year-old fillies, arrived at Keeneland Thursday afternoon and was on the track Friday morning as she continued her preparation for Sunday’s $650,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1).

The Juddmonte Spinster is a “Win and You’re In” Challenge race for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 1. That is where Nitrogen, a multiple graded stakes winner on dirt and grass, is headed.

“I am not putting her back on the grass at this point,” trainer Mark Casse said Friday morning of Nitrogen, who comes into her first test against older fillies and mares off a victory in the Alabama (G1) Presented by Keeneland Sales. “She’s going to run another year.”

Before Nitrogen goes for her Grade 1 victory on Sunday, Casse will send out D.J. Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and Kenneth Freirich’s undefeated Ewing in Saturday’s $650,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track.

“He is doing well and like everybody else, we will see how he fits going two turns,” Casse said. “It’s a small field (seven entrants), but there is a lot of quality.”

SATURDAY WORK TAB

Three horses with Breeders’ Cup aspirations turned in works over a fast main track Friday morning headed by Lael Stables’She Feels Pretty.

Trained by Cherie DeVaux, the five-time Grade 1 winner worked a half-mile in :46.60, the fastest of 83 works at the distance. She is being pointed to the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1) on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

Also working a half-mile was WinStar Farm’s Mullikin, who covered the distance in :47. Trained by Rodolphe Brisset, Mullikin is a candidate for the Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) on Nov. 1.

Morplay Racing and Qatar Racing’s Shisospicy, a candidate for the Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) Nov. 1, drilled 3 furlongs in :34.80 for trainer Jose D’Angelo. The move was the fastest of 10 at the distance.

UTAH BEACH HEADLINES FIELD OF 11 FOR $400,000 SYCAMORE

Jeffrey Amling and Merriebelle Stable’s Utah Beach, winner of this spring’s Elkhorn (G2) here, headlines a field of 11 entered Friday for the 31st running of the $400,000 Sycamore (G2) for 3-year-olds and up going 1½ miles on the turf.

Trained by Ignacio Correas IV, Utah Beach will attempt to become the first horse to sweep the Elkhorn and Sycamore in the same year.

The field for the Sycamore, with trainers, riders and weights from the rail out, is:

ABOUT THE BRONZE STATUES AT THE NEW STAKES WINNER’S CIRCLE

Debuting today — opening day of Keeneland’s 17-day Fall Meet — is the Stakes Winner’s Circle located in the former Walking Ring. After each stakes, a la Royal Ascot in England, the winning horse and ” src=”blob:https://thepressboxlts.com/c3230390-bddd-4b58-98d4-da2d16ee302a” alt=”image004.jpg” align=”left” hspace=”12″ v:shapes=”Picture_x0020_2″ class=”Apple-web-attachment Singleton” style=”width: 2.0583in; height: 2.75in; opacity: 1;”>connections will walk back through the tunnel to the Stakes Winner’s Circle and pose for photographs while fans can share in the thrill of victory. This gathering used to take place far from the crowd on the infield turf course.

Once the horse exits the Stakes Winner’s Circle, the connections and trophy presenter will gather for the trophy presentation before exiting through the stone gate and heading to the Directors Room to continue their celebrations.

Gracing the stone gates are two bronze statues that no doubt will delight race fans and even be familiar: “Horse and Jockey” by Isidore Bonheur.

Bonheur, a French artist often overshadowed by the strong personality and commercial success of his sister Rosa, was a prominent Animalier sculptor and painter, or artist who specialized in the representation of animals. Bonheur was part of the realism movement during the second half of the 19^th century.

These bronzes at the Stakes Winner’s Circle likely were later associated with Kincsem, the famous Hungarian mare who won 54 races across Europe in the 19^th century, but there’s no evidence that Bonheur created the model from Kincsem or the English jockey Elijah Madden.

According to Keeneland Library, Bonheur does not appear to have made specific portraits of horses. Instead, his work may have been sold by contemporary galleries or later dealers with the names of well-known individual horses and jockeys as a marketing strategy. Hence the sculpture often attributed as Kincsem appears occasionally as other horses in auctions and galleries today.

The bronzes are posthumous castings and are not from the “Peyrol” foundry of Bonheur’s brother-in-law, Hippolyte Peyrol, to which most of his original bronzes are closely associated.

The bronzes once stood at Keeneland on limestone piers inside the East entrance at the entry to the Paddock.

PROSPECTIVE FIELDS FOR UPCOMING STAKES

$400,000 FRANKLIN (G2) (Entries taken Sunday; race Sunday, Oct. 12) – Future Is Now (Mike Trombetta), In OurTime (Saffie Joseph Jr.), Luna Louska (Gustavo Delgado), Pipsy (IRE) (Will Walden), Saturday Flirt (Wesley Ward), Shoot It True (Ward).

OPENING WEEKEND SPECIAL EVENTS

Throughout the Fall Meet, special events and activities will continue Keeneland’s historic mission to support the Central Kentucky community and the Thoroughbred industry. They include:

Year-round

Official Keeneland Tours: Click here for description, availability and to purchase tickets.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday (weather permitting)

The Hill. No ticket or reservation is required for tailgating on The Hill, located adjacent to the Keene Barn & Entertainment Center and accessible via Gate 1 (at Man o’ War Blvd.) or Gate 4 (off Van Meter Road on the east side of Keeneland). Fans can watch Keeneland racing action via a jumbo TV and place their bets in a wagering tent while they enjoy live music presented by The Burl, food trucks and handicapping assistance from BETologists. Complimentary shuttles to the track are offered for those with track admission tickets.

The Hill is open from 8 a.m. to 60 minutes after the final race. Amenities are available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For fans who want to elevate their experience, Keeneland again is partnering with RevelXP to tailgate packages for groups of any size. RevelXP will organize tailgates by furnishing a designated tent, catering, amenities and more. Click here for more details.

Saturday

Sunrise Trackside. No ticket is required to attend this free Saturday morning program from 8-10 a.m., which is geared toward families and offers a unique view of Thoroughbreds during training hours. Fans can enjoy a light breakfast for purchase at the Starting Gate concession stand while watching racehorses train. Children’s activities on the first floor Grandstand will include a visit with Keeneland mascot Buckles, face painting and games. Mini tours will be available at the Tours podium near the Paddock. From 8:30 to 9 a.m., fans can pet a horse in the Stakes Winner’s Circle (formerly the Walking Ring), and the John Deere Tractor Break will take place during the renovation period on the main track with a drawing for prizes from John Deere/Meade Tractor.

On Oct. 25, a special Halloween edition of Sunrise Trackside will include an appearance by the Headless Horseman in the Paddock.

Sunday

Celebrating 250Lex. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the new East Plaza will host these activities to celebrate Lexington’s 250^thbirthday: Enjoy live music from Ben Sollee and his band; observe live painting by local artist Wylie Caudill; enter to win “The Perfect Day in Lexington” and play trivia for Lexington-themed prizes. Exclusive cocktails will be available from the Castle & Key trailer near the Paddock or at any full-service bar in the Grandstand. Keeneland’s 10-race card includes the Juddmonte Spinster (G1), the Castle & Key Bourbon (G2) and the Indian Summer (L) Presented by Keeneland Select.

Check out this additional event

Milliners Corner near The Keeneland Shop (by the South Entrance) will feature Christine A. Moore Millinery all weekend.