Thors Echo Stakes ($100.00 Purse)
SA- For Three Year Olds and Upward Foaled in CA
Six Furlongs on the Dirt
May 23, 2026

With the scratch of Mamba, six horses took to the starting gate on Saturday for the Thors Echo Stakes, and we would end with an entertaining finish as three of them were close together at the wire. After checking the photo, it would be Hard Worker getting what would be his biggest career victory. Prior to this race, he had not won for a purse of over $13.58, but has been progressing nicely and had a few close calls in ungraded races leading up to this. Hard Worker is trained by The Sidley Stud and had V Del-Cid aboard. For each, it is their first win in the Thors Echo. Congratulations to them! The time of the win was 1:08.73, the third quickest in the race’s history. Let’s take a look at it!

(1/4 Mile- :22.32)- Out of the starting gate, there would be very little separation The Tim Dillon Show, trained by Patterson Stables, and Bend The Knee, out of Avenue Z. After a quarter mile, The Tim Dillon Show is a head in front, and they are a length ahead of the rest of the field, who run four wide. In the second lane, the eventual winner of the race, The Sidley Stud’s Hard Worker had a neck in front of the others. On the outside, Mr Cockypants (La Canada Racehorses) is scored in the fourth position, with Bowser (Night Rider Stables) and Brooklyn Bash (First Flight Stable) running with them.

(½ Mile- :45.37, Top of Stretch, 1.7F To Go)- Not much changes early in the turn and The Tim Dillon Show and Bend The Knee lead the way, with the rest of the field running a length behind them. Approaching the stretch, The Tim Dillon Show begins to win the battle with Bend The Knee, and leaves a wide open gap on the rail for another horse to come on through. Post-time favorite Brooklyn Bash was positioned the best to capitalize, but Hard Worker had the opportunity to pounce on this lane as well. Mr Cockypants would take an outside trip while Bowser didn’t have many options at this time.

(Finish- 1:08.73)- In the stretch, The Tim Dillon Show would move over a little more, thus allowing both Brooklyn Bash and Hard Worker to have plenty of room to make a move to his inside without breaking stride, and they would do exactly that. It seemed as though Brooklyn Bash was in the best shape at first, but in the final furlong, Hard Worker would live up to his name and have just a little more speed to methodically gain on the leader. Running six wide, Mr Cockypants was also full of run, and in the end these three would hit the line together. In a photo finish, Hard Worker wins by a head over Mr Cockypants, who has the same advantage on third place Brooklyn Bash. It was a length to Bowser in fourth, followed by The Tim Dillon Show and Bend The Knee.

About The Winner- Hard Worker, trained by The Sidley Stud, and ridden to victory by V Del-Cid, is a five year old gelding by Workload and is out of Hash Tag Hash. He was bred as a yearling in California by Mb Stables, and was acquired by The Sidley Stud in the December 2024 auction for just $3.77. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his fourth in 18 starts and first stake win. His career earnings are now $141.55.

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded