BY BROCK SHERIDAN
A winner of his second Grade 3 Thunder Road in his last start, Florida-bred El Potente has been labeled the 5-2 morning line favorite in a field of older turf veterans in Saturday’s $200,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile (Grade 2) at Santa Anita. Among the eight entrants are three 7-year-olds, three 6-years-olds, a 5-year-old and a 4-year-old youngster.
A winner of half of his four starts in 2025, the 7-year-old El Potente looks to be at the top of his game for trainer Dan Blacker and owner My Way Racing LLC. He won a second condition, $80,000 optional claiming in January of last year before winning his first Thunder Road by three lengths in February, both going a mile on the grass at Santa Anita. He was given a nine-month break then returned to finish third in a blanket finish with winner Call Sign Seven and runner-up Astronomer in the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap at eight-and-a-half furlongs on the Del Mar turf on November 29. Returning to Santa Anita a month later, El Potente was fourth in the Grade 3 Joe Hernandez won by Gas Me Up on the downhill turf course on December 29.
Both Gas Me Up and Astronomer are entered in Saturday’s Kilroe.
El Potente is by Temple City out of Charmsil, by Silver Charm and was bred in Florida by Charmsil LLC. A victory in the Kilroe will earn Charmsil a $5,000 Export Incentive check from the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
El Potente has a career record of seven wins, two seconds and three thirds with earnings of $344,794. He was a $35,000 purchase by McMahon and Hill Bloodstock at the 2021 Ocala Breeders’ Sales June Sale of 2-year-olds where he was consigned by Nice and Easy Thoroughbreds.
Hector Berrios will ride El Potente from post three.
After winning the Joe Hernandez, the Peter Eurtron-trained Gas Me Up was second to El Potente last time out in the Thunder Road. The 6-year-old Gas Me Up also counts last year’s Grade 2 King Edward, a mile test on the Woodbine turf, among his five career victories from 12 starts.
Gas Me Up is by Hard Spun and has earned $510,262 for owner Exline-Border Racing, Michael Jawl, Aaron Kennedy and Tom Zwiesler.
Mirco Demuro takes the call on Gas Me Up, who is 7-2 on the morning line and has post four.
Astronomer returns to his Southern California base from South Florida where he was fourth, just a length-and-a-quarter behind winner Test Score, in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational at Gulfstream Park on January 24.
A 7-year-old trained Simon Callaghan, Astronomer has earned $449,100 from three wins in 23 starts.
Florent Geroux will ride Astronomer from the outside post eight.
George Papaprodromou trains the 7-year-old Cabo Spirit, winner of the Grade 3 San Gabriel going a mile-and-an-eight at Santa Anita two starts back on December 28. He too returns from Florida where he was ninth in the Pegasus World Cup Turf.
Mike Mith will ride Cabo Spirit, who is 10-1 on the morning line and has post five.
Also entered are 6-year-old Mi Hermano Ramon, who has post one and jockey Antonio Fresu; 6-year-old Almendares (GB) with Tyler Gaffalione riding from post two, 4-year-old Mi Bago breaks from post six with Emisael Jaramillo up, and 5-year-old Final Boss has Juan Hernandez riding from post seven.
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