In a surprising twist at Keeneland, the reigning Horse of the Year, Thorpedo Anna, ended up a distant fourth as the 1-2 favorite in the Grade 1 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes on October 5. The superstar filly kept an eye on the pace but just didn’t have enough left in the tank in the stretch, finishing 8 1/2 lengths behind. Her performance, which was just the second time she had ever missed the board, really got people talking about her upcoming title defense in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff and left some wondering about her future in racing.

A few days after the race, Kenny McPeek shared a heartfelt update with fans, letting them know that retirement is looking like the most likely next step for the champion filly.

According to a post on FanDuel Racing’s official X, the trainer mentioned, “But I think the notion is that was probably her last race. I don’t think we’re going to officially say that till probably this weekend…But, you know, look, this filly has been amazing. There’s absolutely nothing that she owes us. I mean, from a $40,000 yearling to Horse of the Year. So a lot of this has been a fantastic ride. It’s a little bit, you know, it’s kind of a sad moment because there’s so many people that pull for. But, you know, look, she’s got a big future, even if it is as a broodmare.”

If this marks the end of her racing career, Thorpedo Anna certainly leaves behind an incredible legacy. She was bought for $40,000 as a yearling, but she totally blew everyone away by racking up $5,440,913 in earnings and taking home seven Grade 1 races, like the 2024 Kentucky Oaks and the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

McPeek and the ownership group, including breeder Judy Hicks and now John Sikura, are really proud of her accomplishments. But this wasn’t the first time the trainer brought up the idea of Thorpedo Anna possibly retiring.

Kenny McPeek was quite honest about what would happen to Thorpedo Anna

“For everybody out there that’s worried about her, you can rest at ease. She’s fine,” Kenny McPeek said right after the G1 Spinster Stakes. The trainer mentioned that she came back to the barn in good shape and had a clean scope, but pointed out a possible mild case of “the thumps,” which is an electrolyte imbalance that might impact performance.

McPeek shared the main point of his message, saying that if the champion is going to have a rough performance, “the best time for it to happen is this time of year.” This timing gives her team a chance to work with owner John Sikura’s Hill ‘n’ Dale team to plan her breeding future. The trainer really captured her career with a cool analogy, saying, “I’ve used the analogy many times in my career that horses are like surfing, and you’re trying to catch a big wave. And this filly’s been the most amazing wave I’ve ever been on.”

Kenny McPeek has made it pretty clear that all racing plans are on hold for the moment. He mentioned that heading to California for the Breeders’ Cup is “probably the least of our worries right now.” Indeed, he is really focusing on her health and taking the time to figure out what her next steps should be, no rush at all.

The trainer wrapped things up with a sincere note, mentioning that this could be her last race. He said, “We’re going to make sure that she’s healthy and that, you know, that she comes out of this race. And if it’s her last race, it’s her last race. And if that’s the case, then we’re really proud of her. And we appreciate everybody’s support out there.” Well, if Thorpedo Anna actually hangs up her racing shoes, it would definitely wrap up an incredible chapter in horse racing. She’s been a real gem for her trainer, bringing in a ton of wins!