SUMMERFIELD, FL (352today.com) – Thorpedo Anna joined Rachel Alexandra in becoming only the second 3-year-old filly to win Horse of the Year honors. The dark bay daughter of Fast Anna was nearly unbeatable, securing both Horse of the Year and 3-year-old filly Eclipse Awards at Resolute Racing’s 54th Eclipse ceremony on Jan. 23, 2025.
Sierra Leone and Chad Brown’s Success
Meanwhile, Sierra Leone, trained by Chad Brown, claimed the Eclipse Award for outstanding 3-year-old male. He enjoyed a remarkable year, highlighted by victory in the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar. Brown earned his fifth Eclipse Award as North America’s outstanding trainer and confirmed Sierra Leone will remain in training. The colt received his early foundation under David Scanlon’s care at Oak Ridge Training Center in Morriston.
Unanimous Vote for the Filly
It was a unanimous vote for Thorpedo Anna in her division. Purchased for $40,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearling Sale, she now boasts over $3.8 million in earnings. Owned by Brookdale Racing, Inc., Mark Edwards, Judy B. Hicks, and Magdalena Racing’s Sherri McPeek, she developed under McPeek Racing at Silverleaf Hills Training Center in Summerfield, with Ken McPeek as trainer.
Dominant 2024 Campaign
Thorpedo Anna won six of seven starts, six of them graded stakes, including the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Her lone setback was a head loss to Fierceness in the Travers Stakes, where Sierra Leone finished third. Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. guided her to all six victories in 2024, and she will continue racing in 2025.
“First of all, I’d like to thank Kenny for allowing me to be a part of this journey and this amazing filly, Judy Hicks, who as she described it, ‘took a broodmare that has the body of Uncle Mo and the legs of a pony and had the courage to bring this amazing filly to the track,'” said Edwards. “I also want to thank Brookdale Racing, who’s not here tonight. They’re the majority owner. Most of all, I want to thank the fans for embracing her, and also this amazing community, which is a very small community. I’m very proud to be a part of it.”
|RELATED: Summerfield filly Thorpedo Anna nears Eclipse Award after stunning Breeders’ Cup win
Looking Ahead
Brown offered insight on Sierra Leone’s future, stating, “He’s one of the world’s top racehorses and that’s well-covered now, and I think that’s accurate…if he does make this race in Saudi (the Saudi Cup)…it would set him up for a campaign where he would race less this year (2025)…then we’ll be focusing on the second half of the year.”
Both Thorpedo Anna and Sierra Leone highlight the depth of talent in thoroughbred racing, fueling excitement for their upcoming campaigns.
Check back for tomorrow’s coverage to learn more about how Ocala-area connections shaped Eclipse-winning horses like Sierra Leone, Straight No Chaser, and Citizen Bull—plus a look at the 2025 Derby picture.