Stakes Advance – Azeri Stakes 2025
At 0h36, on March 8, 2025 • By Oaklawn Park
For just the third time, a reigning Horse of the Year will run at Oaklawn when Thorpedo Anna makes her 4-year-old debut in Saturday’s $400,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) for older fillies and mares.
An ancient set of past performances points to a close finish.
Favorite Trick and Azeri (Saturday’s race honors her Hall of Fame career) are the only reigning Horse of the Year winners to compete at Oaklawn since the Eclipse Awards debuted in 1971.
Favorite Trick, the 1997 Horse of the Year, was unbeaten in nine career starts when he ran in the $500,000 Arkansas Derby (G2) for 3-year-olds in 1998. Favorite Trick, at odds of 2-5, finished third, beaten two heads by Victory Gallop.
Azeri won 8 of 9 starts, including the $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1), en route to 2002 Horse of the Year honors. Azeri, also 2-5, opened 2003 in the Apple Blossom and ran down the Kenny McPeek-trained Take Charge Lady in the final 100 yards to win by a head.
Now, 22 years later, McPeek has the 2-5 (program) Azeri favorite in Thorpedo Anna.
“I just hope I’m not on the same side of the photo this year,” McPeek said Friday morning.
The 1 1/16-mile Azeri headlines an 11-race card that begins at 1:30 p.m. Probable post time for the Azeri, the 10th race, is 6:25 p.m.
The Azeri is Oaklawn’s final major prep for the $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at 1 1/16 miles April 12.
The seven-horse Azeri field from the rail out: Thorpedo Anna, Brian Hernandez Jr. to ride, 119 pounds, 2-5 on the morning line; Alpine Princess, Cristian Torres, 119, 6-1; Jody’s Pride, Ricardo Santana Jr., 119, 8-1; Wild Bout Hilary, C.J. McMahon, 124, 15-1; Recharge, Keith Asmussen, 121, 12-1; Free Like a Girl, Julien Leparoux, 121, 15-1; and Bow Draw, Rocco Bowen, 119, 30-1.
