Thorpedo Anna went wire-to-wire to top a group of 14 fillies to win a historic 150th edition of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Longines Kentucky Oaks on Friday evening at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

The Oaks — a 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-old fillies that is run the day before the Kentucky Derby at Churchill — was contested over a sloppy track after a day that was filled with rain and overcast skies. A downpour opened up over Churchill Downs just moments after the Oaks concluded.

Rain is also likely in the cards for Saturday’s 150th running of the Grade 1, $5 million Kentucky Derby.

Lexington-based trainer Kenny McPeek and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. now both own a Kentucky Oaks victory following Thorpedo Anna’s triumph.

McPeek had previously finished second on three occasions in the Oaks with Swiss Skydiver in 2020, Daddys Lil Darling in 2017 and Take Charge Lady in 2002.

Thorpedo Anna, who had 4-1 odds at post time, broke from post position 5 and led the whole way in her Oaks triumph. She drew well clear of the field during the stretch run after being part of a three-wide pack in the turn for home. She now has four wins in five career starts.

She ran the 1 1/8-mile race in 1:50.83 over the sloppy track.

Hernandez described the closing moments of the race as a “magical moment” that he was able to enjoy given the lead Thorpedo Anna had over the field.

Just F Y I was several lengths back in second. Regulatory Risk ran third. Ways and Means was fourth and Everland ran fifth.

“It worked out kind of the way we thought it would,” Hernandez said post race. “Kenny and I had talked about the race a few times over the last few days. It looked like there was no speed to our inside (Gin Gin, Where’s My Ring and Regulatory Risk). So we thought we’d let her run under the wire first time to get good position, which she did.”

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