DEL MAR, Calif. – A workmanlike filly who never misses a meal and never misses a dance capped an outstanding campaign by leading gate to wire in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Saturday at Del Mar. Anything short of victory by the odds-on favorite would have been disappointing. Thorpedo Anna ($2.80) never disappoints. Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. put her on the lead, slowed the pace to a crawl, and won by 2 1/2 lengths over Raging Sea. Candied finished third in a Distaff wracked by the defections of 2023 Distaff winner Idiomatic, multiple Grade 1 winner Adare Manor and undefeated Awesome Result, the Japan-based filly who scratched Saturday morning. :: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports Thorpedo Anna gave trainer Kenny McPeek his first Breeders’ Cup win, at the end of an unforgettable year. McPeek and Hernandez won the Kentucky Derby with Mystik Dan, the Kentucky Oaks with Thorpedo Anna, and on Saturday, McPeek scored his first Breeders’ Cup victory with this 38th Breeders' Cup starter. Thorpedo Anna raced seven times in 2024, and won six in a campaign that began in March. “She really loves to go to work every day,” McPeek said. “She never misses a meal. Kind of like me. I think that makes the job easier.” Hernandez, who has ridden Thorpedo Anna all 10 career starts, including eight wins and two seconds, was asked about the most important part of the race. “Just making sure the first two jumps were in good order and she left there running and got herself in a good position,” Hernandez said. “Once she gets in her rhythm, she makes my job easy and I just stay out of her way.” Thorpedo Anna jumped well, and cruised to the lead under token pressure from Raging Sea. The opening quarter-mile was 23.81, with an even softer half-mile in 47.99. Raging Sea crept forward on the far turn, but after six furlongs in a slow 1:12.01, they were playing Thorpedo Anna’s game, with the filly completing the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49:10, good for a 100 Beyer Speed Figure. Flavien Prat rode Grade 1 winner Raging Sea, the 4-1 second choice. “I was trying to get as close as I could, I thought I was in a good spot,” Prat said. “When we hit the last turn, I was going as good as [Hernandez on Thorpedo Anna], but he kicked away more than I did.” Raging Sea finished 3 3/4 lengths clear of third place Candied, who saved ground throughout. The order of finish was completed by Alice Verite, Sugar Fish, Che Evasora, and Honor D Lady. Trainer Chad Brown said Raging Sea will race next year as a 5-year-old, and he also expects Grade 1 winner Randomized, runner-up in the 2023 Distaff, to race next year. Brown could not help but wonder if this year’s Distaff might have turned out differently with a livelier pace. “It would have been nice if we hadn’t had all those scratches, just to see what would have happened if [Thorpedo Anna] had some pressure on her today,” Brown said. He tipped his cap to Thorpedo Anna, and added his rival “had a long campaign, she’s been remarkably consistent and a much-deserved champion.” Thorpedo Anna raced from March through early November without a break, and McPeek restated that Breeders’ Cup week had its share of anxiety. “This wasn’t as easy a week as everybody thinks it might have been” due to a cut on her hip and a large hematoma on her stifle.” McPeek did not train Thorpedo Anna on Monday, she only jogged at Del Mar on Tuesday, then resumed galloping Wednesday. The trainer and filly dodged a bullet. “It was a little nerve-wracking the first couple days … Fortunately she’s tough and she went out there and trained with it. Never missed a beat.” McPeek called Thorpedo Anna “workmanlike.” Her wins this year include the Grade 2 Fantasy, and five Grade 1s – Kentucky Oaks, Acorn, Coaching Club America Oaks, Cotillion, and now the Distaff. Her only loss was a runner-up finish against colts in the Travers. Plans call for Thorpedo Anna to race next year at age 4. McPeek said. “We’ll put a plan together for that. I think she’s been so much fun, and she’s healthy, we’ll probably let her visit [veterinarian Dr. Larry Bramlage] and let him poke on her a little bit, make sure that everything is in good order before we firmly make that decision.” For now, Thorpedo Anna is the queen of the 3-year-old filly division. She is owned by Mark Edwards, breeder Judy Hicks, Magdalena Racing, and Brookdale Racing. Sired by Fast Anna, Thorpedo Anna has won eight races and $3,843,663 from 10 starts. Her only losses were runner-up finishes. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.