El Potente will likely get his chance at Kilroe Mile

ARCADIA, Calif. – For the second consecutive year, El Potente won the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita by a convincing margin.

Last year, El Potente won the Thunder Road by three lengths in what was intended to be a prep race for the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile in March. El Potente was withdrawn from the Kilroe and did not race again until November.

On Saturday, El Potente won the Thunder Road by 3 3/4 lengths and once again has the Kilroe Mile as a goal on March 7, according to owner Mike Way and trainer Dan Blacker. This year, however, the Kilroe Mile is run as a Grade 2 stakes, having been downgraded by the American Graded Stakes Committee in December. The purse remains the same, at $300,000.

“It’s still a prestigious race,” Blacker said Sunday.

A 7-year-old, El Potente has been raced sparingly, winning 7 of 17 starts in a career that began in fall 2021. Saturday’s win occurred three years and a week after El Potente won a $50,000 claimer for maidens.

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Layoffs aside, El Potente is capable of top-class performances, as shown by his wins in the Thunder Road.

“He’s a tough horse,” Way said in the winner’s circle. “He hasn’t lost a step at the age of 7.

“El Potente had the third start of his comeback in the Thunder Road. In November, El Potente was a game third in the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar. On Dec. 29, El Potente chased a fast pace in the Grade 2 Joe Hernandez Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita and finished fourth by 4 3/4 lengths.

“This is the race we’ve been leading up to,” Way said of the Thunder Road. “It was a tough race at Del Mar. The Joe Hernandez was run at a suicidal pace.”

Before the Thunder Road Stakes, Blacker credited Way with allowing him to give El Potente ample time between starts when needed. Way deferred the credit for El Potente’s wins to Blacker in the winner’s circle.

“It’s because of Dan and his team,” Way said. “I’m the most impatient guy he’s got.

“We’ve given him time to recover and when he gets the time off he needs, he’s fine.”

El Potente is the most successful horse Way has had through his My Racing LLC. Way has a farming operation in California and Mexico that specializes in artichokes, asparagus, and bell peppers.

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