El Potente dominates Thunder Road Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – El Potente dazzled in the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita.

The lightly raced 6-year-old won the turf mile in a blazing 1:32.39 to emerge as one of the top turf milers in California. El Potente ($5 favorite) won by three lengths over Seal Team, whose chances were compromised when he broke through the gate before the start.

It might not have mattered. Few horses can run a turf mile as fast as El Potente, who has come a long way since he won a maiden-claiming turf sprint two years ago at Santa Anita.

“We figured he would get better with age,” trainer Dan Blacker said. “Some do, some don’t.”

El Potente did. Up in class following a decisive victory in a second-level allowance, El Potente and jockey Hector Berrios pressed the Thunder Road pace set by Air Force Red, cruised to the lead passing the quarter pole, opened up and won clear. Seal Team finished 1 1/4 lengths clear of pacesetter Air Force Red, who finished third.

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The Thunder Road was the first start for El Potente in a graded stakes and only the 14th start of his career. He made his debut in 2021.

“We’re thankful that the owner, Mike Way, has been super patient and allowed (us) to give him time when he needed,” Blacker said. “That’s the key with these older horses to really keep them peaking.”

El Potente raced in second position behind fractions of 46.17 and 1:09.43 before he kicked away. Although Blacker was reluctant to discuss the next start for El Potente, the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe on March 1 would be a logical spot.

Three recent Thunder Road winners – River Boyne (2020), Hit the Road (2021), and Count Again (2022) – won the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe their next start.

Favoritism in the Thunder Road shifted late. Seal Team was favored until he broke through the gate. His odds drifted from 9-5 to close at 2.70-1. Seal Team was able to drop in, save ground, and rally late, but El Potente was gone.

Favorites won eight of the first nine races Saturday, and all four stakes.

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