Following a successful return to racing, 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna has found herself back at the top of the racing world, which was reflected by the results of the Week 7 National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Top Thoroughbred Poll.
The Fast Anna filly coasted on the lead to an easy 3 1/2-length victory March 8 in the Azeri Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park, showing she will be just as big a force in her 4-year-old season as she was at 3 for trainer Kenny McPeek and owners Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks, and Magdalena Racing.
The victory earned 16 first-place votes from the national media who voted on the NTRA poll and established her above Pegasus World Cup (G1) winner White Abarrio and Santa Anita Handicap (G1) winner Locked for the top spot.
Racing at Tampa Bay Downs Saturday also made some impacts to the NTRA rankings, with Daniel Alonso's Skippylongstocking joining the leaderboard in a tie for ninth with Forever Young following his track-record setting performance in the 1 1/16-mile Challenger Stakes (G3), which he won for a third straight year.
A frontrunning 3 1/2-length triumph in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) also rose the voters' faith in Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing's Owen Almighty as the son of Speightstown joined the NTRA's Top 3-Year-Old Poll in sixth place.
