Santa Anita: El Potente looks to defend title in Thunder Road

Defending winner El Potente targets a repeat in Saturday's Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes, a one-mile turf event for older horses at Santa Anita.

Trained by Dan Blacker, El Potente most recently finished fourth, 3 3/4 lengths behind winner Gas Me Up, in the Joe Hernandez Stakes (G2) sprinting about 6 1/2 furlongs on Santa Anita's hillside turf course Dec. 29. The 7-year-old horse by Temple City has gone winless in two starts since his Thunder Road victory last year. Prior to the Joe Hernandez, El Potente finished third, beaten a half-length, in the Seabiscuit (G2) going a mile at Del Mar in November. Never off the board at the Thunder Road distance, El Potente holds a record of 16: 6-2-3 with $284,796 in earnings for owner My Way Racing. Regular rider Hector I. Berrios has the call.

Gas Me Up rallied from last in a field of 10 to win the Joe Hernandez by 1 1/4 lengths for trainer Peter Eurton. The career-best effort earned a 100 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form. The 6-year-old Hard Spun gelding won the King Edward Stakes (G2) at a mile on turf at Woodbine last year when trained by Kevin Attard, then finished third in the Woodbine Mile (G1).

Gas Me Up closed his 2025 campaign with a seventh-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Mile at Del Mar. Owned by Exline Boarder Racing, Michael Jawl, Aaron Kennedy and Tom Zwisler, Gas Me Up holds a record of 11: 5-1-1 with $490,262 in earnings. Mirco Demuro will ride.