El Potente to miss Shoemaker Mile with fever

El Potente, a two-time Grade 3 winner since the beginning of 2025, will miss a scheduled start in Monday’s Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita because of an illness, trainer Dan Blacker said on Friday.

“He’s got a fever and he’s not going to run,” Blacker said.

El Potente was rated as a leading contender for the $300,000 Shoemaker Mile, the only annual Grade 1 race at a mile on turf in California.

“We’ve been pointing to this race all year,” Blacker said. “He’s good enough to win a Grade 1, I believe that. I’m heartbroken for Mike Way, the owner.”

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A 7-year-old horse, El Potente has won 7 of 18 starts and earned $384,796. El Potente won his first start of 2026 in the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita on Feb. 7, and was second by a half-length as the 9-5 favorite to the longshot Final Boss in the Grade 2 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf on March 7.

The Shoemaker Mile became a springtime goal after the Kilroe Mile.

“The horse has been training better than ever,” Blacker said.

El Potente may return in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile, a $300,000 race on turf on Aug. 22.

“We have to get him back 100 percent and see what is next,” Blacker said. “The Del Mar Mile is probably on the horizon.”

The defection of El Potente leaves the Shoemaker Mile with eight entrants. The field does not include Final Boss, who was recently retired after being diagnosed with an injury, trainer John Sadler said last weekend.

The Shoemaker Mile is one of three stakes on Monday’s program, which includes the Grade 2 Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 ¼ miles on dirt, and the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes for fillies and mare at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

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