El Potente should control pace in Thunder Road

El Potente chased a fast pace in the Grade 2 Joe Hernandez Stakes for turf sprinters on Dec. 29 before fading to finish fourth. In Saturday’s Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita, El Potente is expected to set a much slower pace and may have ample energy to carry that advantage to the finish.

Trained by Dan Blacker for Mike Way, El Potente is winless in two starts since the 2025 Thunder Road, the 7-year-old horse’s only stakes win in 16 starts. El Potente appears to be the lone runner in this year’s field of five with a tendency to lead.

“I think he’s got a great chance,” Blacker said earlier this week. “He’s training as good as ever. The pace scenario looks like it will be to our advantage. He’s back at his preferred distance.”

El Potente drew post 4 and will be ridden by Hector Berrios.

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In the $202,500 Hernandez Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs, El Potente was beaten 3 3/4 lengths by Gas Me Up, who closed from last of 10, benefiting from the rapid early pace. Gas Me Up, seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 1, starts from the inside post in the $100,000 Thunder Road Stakes.

Trainer Peter Eurton said El Potente’s ability to lead is a concern. Gas Me Up has raced well in one-mile races that were not run at a fast tempo, notably a third in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile in Canada in September.

“The field lacks a lot of speed except for Blacker’s horse,” Eurton said. “Having a good pace in front of him is an asset.”

Mirco Demuro rode Gas Me Up for the first time in the Hernandez and retains the mount. Eurton said Demuro may position Gas Me Up closer to the front in the Thunder Road.

“He’s the kind of rider that does what he wants to do,” Eurton said. “That ride he gave on Gas Me up was spectacular. I think he is a good judge of pace.”

The other three entrants – Lord Bullingdon, Namaron, and Watsonville – are stakes winners.

Lord Bullingdon, who typically runs as a stalker, won the 2023 Eddie Logan Stakes for 2-year-olds at a mile on turf. The Thunder Road will be his first start since a last-place finish in an allowance race on a sealed and sloppy track at Churchill Downs last June. Both of Lord Bullingdon’s career wins on turf have been at Santa Anita.

Watsonville, winner of the Grade 2 Mathis Mile on turf at Santa Anita in 2023, has the quickest turnaround. Trained by Mark Glatt, Watsonville won an allowance at a mile on Jan. 11, a race in which he was eligible to be claimed for $80,000.

Watsonville typically races from off the pace, as does Namaron, a minor stakes winner in Germany last April who was third as the 1-2 favorite in the Grade 2 Mathis Mile on Dec. 26, losing by a length.

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