The “Grizzly” was ready for a fight at Parx Racing Sept. 21 in the $1 million Cotillion (G1). After emerging victorious despite her rivals’ best efforts to keep her pinned on the rail, Thorpedo Anna was rewarded with the top spot in Week 35 of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association’s Top Thoroughbred Poll.
The neck victory pushed her back to the number 1 spot by two points over Fierceness , who defeated her by a head in the Aug. 24 Travers (G1).
Trained by Kenny McPeek and ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., the daughter of Fast Anna is 5-1-0 from six starts with four grade 1 victories in 2024, earning $2,626,550 for owners Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks, and Magdalena Racing.
Other big winners Saturday at Parx received enough votes from members of the national media to appear in the Top 10. Michael Foster’s Next has been riding the border of the Top 10 since his Aug. 4 Birdstone domination. A fourth romp this year, this time by 10 lengths, in the $200,000 Greenwood Cup (G3) has secured him the eighth position.
MyRacehorse’s Seize the Grey proved his Preakness (G1) win was no fluke while rolling to a front-running, 3 3/4-length win in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1). He appeared in ninth place on the poll after being ranked 40th last week.
With Thorpedo Anna pointing to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) at Del Mar Nov. 2, Fierceness easily retained his lead in the Week 8 rankings for the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). The Repole Stable colt holds a 31-point lead over Epsom Derby (G1) winner City of Troy .
Three of the Top 10 will compete this weekend in their final Classic tune-ups. Seventh-ranked Ushba Tesoro and ninth-ranked Derma Sotogake square off Sept. 25 in the Hai Stakes at Funabashi Racecourse in Japan. Tenth-ranked Senor Buscador is entered in the Sept. 28 California Crown (G1).
Original source credited to bloodhorse.com
Cover Photo Credit to Chad Harmon
