HOT SPRINGS (AR) – She’s still “The Grizzly.”

Thorpedo Anna, the reigning Horse of the Year and current Queen of American racing, stalked an honest early pace set by Wild Bout Hilary, assumed command entering the second turn, and drew off in the stretch to win Oaklawn’s $1,250,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) Saturday.

Winning her sixth Grade 1 stakes race (and 10^th overall) in her 12^th career start, Thorpedo Anna earned $731,250 from her 4 1/4-length score to improve her lifetime earnings to $4,814,913 for owners Brookdale Racing, Mark Edward, Judy B. Hicks and Magdalena Racing.

The Kenny McPeek trainee, ridden in each of her starts by jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr., first achieved fame by winning last year’s Kentucky Oaks (G1) after launching her campaign in Oaklawn’s $750,000 G2-Fantasy Stakes. After the Oaks, Thorpedo Anna won Saratoga’s Acorn (G1) and CCA Oaks (G1) before winding down her 3-year-old campaign with a 2 ½-length score in the Breeder’s Cup Distaff (G1). She was the unanimous choice for Champion 3-Year-Old Filly and overwhelming choice for Horse of the Year. She won Oaklawn’s Azeri Stakes (G2) in her first start of the year on March 8.

Going off as the 1-10 favorite Thorpedo Anna returned modest mutuels of $2.40, $2.10 and $2.10. As in the Azeri, Free Like a Girl was second, finishing 1 ½ lengths in front of show horse Where’s My Ring. It was another 10 ¾-lengths back to fourth-place finisher Neom Beach and pacesetter Wild Bout Hilary and Sweet Alyssa completed the order of finish. Noble Miss was scratched.