Hit the Road

Unplaced in his career debut on the dirt, Hit the Road looked like a different animal when switching over to the grass for his second career start July 28, 2019, at Del Mar. He closed from eighth in a 10-horse field to take command in the stretch on his way to a 1 ¼-length victory. The More Than Ready colt was even sharper for his stakes debut in October, posting a 2 ¼-length score in the Zuma Beach Stakes at Santa Anita. He subsequently was unplaced in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. In his final start as a 2-year-old, Hit the Road rallied for fourth in the Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes in December at Del Mar.

Hit the Road won both of his races as a 3-year-old in 2020, taking an allowance race in May at Santa Anita and the Oceanside Stakes in July at Del Mar, winning the latter by 1 ¾ length with an explosive late rally.

Hit the Road was absolutely dominant in his 4-year-old debut, drawing well clear in the stretch for a decisive win in the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes Feb. 6 at Santa Anita Park. He completed the mile in 1:33.35 to secure his first career graded stakes win.

Next out, Hit the Road enjoyed a great stalking trip and outkicked a strong field of grass milers to win the Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita Park  on Mar. 6. He covered the mile in 1:34.48, under jockey Flavien Prat. That win gave trainer Dan Blacker his first career Grade 1 victory.