BY BROCK SHERIDAN

El Potente, who came off a nine-month layoff with a strong gate-to-wire score in June, makes his first start since in Saturday’s $80,000 Lure at Santa Anita. Trained by Dan Blacker for My Way Racing LLC, the 5-year-old Florida-bred horse will face eight other 3-year-olds and older going a mile on the turf.

Blacker took over the training for El Potente in January of last year after the son of Temple City had gone winless in his first four career starts.

In his second race from the new barn, El Potente won a $50,000 maiden claiming by six lengths sprinting on the turf at Santa Anita later that month. He next won an off-the-turf, $50,000 optional claiming starter allowance by six-and-a-half lengths in March then a $50,000 starter allowance by two-and-a-quarter lengths going nine furlongs on the grass in April.

He was given a four-month break before returning in August of last year to finish second in a first condition, $40,000 optional claiming going a mile on the turf at Del Mar.

El Potente is out of Charmsil, by Silver Charm and was bred in Florida by My Way Racing LLC. He has four wins, a second and a third in 10 starts with earnings of $128,700.

He is a graduate of the 2021 Ocala Breeders’ Sales June Sale where McMahon and Hill Bloodstock as agent bought him for $35,000 out of the Nice and Easy Thoroughbreds consignment.

Hector Berrios will ride El Potente from post seven.

Man O Rose returns to turf after winning the $75,000 E. B. Johnston by eight lengths at Los Alamitos in his last start on Sept. 14. The 4-year-old Jeff Mullins trainee won the one-mile contest after leading from the start to win for the seventh time in his last nine starts.

He was successful in his last trip over the Santa Anita turf three starts back in June, winning a six-furlong allowance race by two lengths. He was then an unpredictable sixth in a $100,000 optional claiming going five furlongs on the Del Mar turf on Aug. 2.

Man O Rose has seven wins in 12 career starts with two seconds while banking $319,840 for owner B & B Zietz Stables Inc.

Edwin Maldonado takes the call on Man O Rose and they have drawn post two.

Completing the field are Mi Hermano Ramon and jockey Antonio Fresu, Armando Ayuso will ride Flashiest, Sumter will carry Mike Smith, Exaulted and rider Juan Hernandez, Sarwar (Fr) will be ridden by Diego Herrera, Jose Valdivia Jr. has the mount on War at Sea and Seal Team (GB) with jockey Umberto Rispoli.

Return to the October 17 issue of Wire to Wire