The Thunder Road Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for horses age four and older, over a distance of 1 mile on the turf held annually in January at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, California. The event currently carries a purse of $100,000.
History
The race was inaugurated on 11 February 2004 as a handicap and was won by Singletary who was ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza by a margin of one length in a time of 1:34.42.
The event was upgraded to a Grade III event for 2009 and was switched to the artificial main track because of weather conditions.
The event was not run in 2010 or 2012.
It was downgraded to listed status for 2013 through 2015 but was upgraded back to a Grade III event in 2016. It is currently run under allowance weight conditions with a purse of $100,000.
Records Speed record: 1:31.78 – Tom's Tribute (2014)
Margins: lengths – Hit the Road (2021), El Potente (2026)
Most wins: 2 - El Potente (2025, 2026)
Most wins by an owner: 2 - My Way Racing (2025, 2026)
Most wins by a jockey: 3 – Victor Espinoza (2004, 2006, 2015) 3 – Flavien Prat (2018, 2022, 2023)
Most wins by a trainer: 3 – Philip D'Amato (2017, 2022, 2023) 3 - Dan Blacker (2021, 2025, 2026)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefThunder Road Stakes2026El Potente7Dan BlackerMy Way Racing 1 mile1:33.49$100,000III2025El Potente6Hector Isaac BerriosDan BlackerMy Way Racing 1 mile1:32.39$102,000III2024Goliad 7Kazushi KimuraRichard E. Mandella Ramona S. & Perry R. Bass II1 mile1:33.57$101,000III2023Earls Rock (IRE)5Flavien PratPhilip D'AmatoAnthony Fanticola1 mile1:34.05$103,000III2022Count Again 7Flavien PratPhilip D'AmatoAgave Racing Stable & Sam-Son Farm1 mile1:34.12$100,500III2021Hit the Road 5Umberto RispoliDan BlackerD K Racing, Radley Equine, Taste of Victory Stables, Rick Gold & Dave Odmark 1 mile1:33.35$100,500III2020River Boyne (IRE)5Abel CedilloJeff MullinsRed Baron's Barn & Rancho Temescal1 mile1:33.78$102,000III2019True Valour (IRE)5Andrea AtzeniSimon CallaghanQatar Racing Limited1 mile1:36.35$100,351III2018Om6Flavien PratDan L. HendricksSareen Family Trust1 mile1:33.54$100,345III2017Farhaan8Tyler BazePhilip D'AmatoMatthew Schera1 mile1:33.18$100,690III2016What a View5Kenneth D. BlackFinish Line Racing, The Ellwood Johnston Trust, P. & S. Berumen 1 mile1:39.01$102,070III2015Talco (FR)4Victor EspinozaJohn W. SadlerHronis Racing1 mile1:34.26$82,000 Listed 2014Tom's Tribute4Mike E. SmithJames M. CassidyTom & Marilyn Braly1 mile1:31.78$79,750 2013Battle Force4Corey NakataniJohn ShirreffsWoodford Racing1 mile1:32.94$78,700 2012Race not heldThunder Road Handicap 2011Fluke (BRZ)6Joseph TalamoHumberto AscanioPatricia Bozano1 mile1:33.77$100,000III2010Race not held2009Matto Mondo (CHI)5Mike E. SmithYatse Stables I1 mile1:34.61$100,000III20086Garrett K. GomezRobert J. FrankelCastleton Lyons & La Biznaga1 mile1:34.17$81,150 Listed 2007Sweet Return (GB)7Alex O. SolisRon McAnallyRed Oak Stable1 mile1:35.47$80,050 Listed 2006Senor Swinger6Victor EspinozaBob BaffertRobert & Beverly Lewis1 mile1:34.00$81,450 Listed 2005Laura's Lucky Boy4Pat ValenzuelaVladimir CerinErnie Moody1 mile1:34.39$78,650 Listed 2004Singletary4Victor EspinozaDon ChatlosLittle Red Feather Racing1 mile1:34.42$71,350
Legend:
See also List of American and Canadian Graded races
References