Betting With, and Against, Thorpedo Anna in the Apple Blossom

Six brave souls will hope to upend reigning Horse of the Year #6 Thorpedo Anna (2-5) in the $1.25 million Apple Blossom H. (G1) at Oaklawn Park on Saturday. Trained by Kenny McPeek, the sublime daughter of Fast Anna endured a sensational sophomore campaign in 2024 with five Grade 1 tallies in seven starts, with her lone setback coming when falling a head short to champion Fierceness while facing the boys in the Travers S. (G1). The dark bay filly commenced her four-year-old campaign with a measured, 3 ½-length triumph in the Azeri S. (G2) on the grounds in preparation for this tussle, and she comes in with a bullet five-furlong drill, as well. She will be formidable with her best effort beneath regular rider Brian Hernandez, Jr. 

Thorpedo Anna – With 

• $12 superfecta 6 with 5,7 with 3,5,7 with 3,5,7 ($48) 

Thorpedo Anna – Against

• $4 superfecta 5,7 with 3,5,6,7 with 3,5,6,7 ($48)

For those looking for alternatives to the favorite, #7 Wild About Hilary (20-1) is something of an all-or-nothing type, but she has shown nice improvement since the fall and could benefit from being outside of Thorpedo Anna in the affair. Midnight Lute four-year-old led at every call in a fine Bayakoa S. (G3) win and comes in fresh with four solid morning drills in the interim, The Kentucky-bred will undoubtedly need a lifetime best to upset this cast, but she has won four of her last five on the dirt and is not impossible under Ramon Vazquez. 

Grade-3 heroine #5 Where’s My Ring (5-2) is the obvious main danger to the favorite after registering a 104 Brisnet Speed number in an allowance tally on the oval most recently. The Val Brinkerhoff pupil lacks consistency overall, but she has run a few huge races in her lifetime, and the Twirling Candy filly might peak in her third run off the shelf, as well. The bay put in a solid four panels on the oval leading up to this and will have Francisco Arrieta in the silks. 

#3 Free Like a Girl (10-1) was an excellent second to Thorpedo Anna in the Azeri last time and the 21-time winner has to be included in the exotics, for sure. I don’t expect the daughter of El Deal to run much better than she did last time at this stage of her development, but a repeat of that strong performance will find her getting a check beneath Julien Leparoux.