Stronghold headed to Pennsylvania Derby

Santa Anita Derby winner Stronghold is scheduled to have his next start in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing on Sept. 21 instead of the $125,000 Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar on Sept. 1.

Trainer Phil D’Amato said on Wednesday that the $1 million purse of the Pennsylvania Derby is a leading factor in the decision.

“I’d say there is a very good chance we’ll wait for the Pennsylvania Derby,” D’Amato said.

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“It’s a million dollars versus $125,000. It makes more sent to wait for the big money.”

Owned and bred by Rick and Sharon Waller, Stronghold followed his win in the Santa Anita Derby in April with a seventh-place finish in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 4 and a second by 2 1/2 lengths in the Grade 3 Indiana Derby at Horseshoe Indianapolis on July 6.

In the Indiana Derby, Stronghold was steadied on the first turn and raced four wide before losing to Dragoon Guard.

“He ran a valiant race in the Indiana Derby,” D’Amato said. “We didn’t get things our way.”

Dragoon Guard returned to win the Grade 3 West Virginia Derby on Aug. 4 at Mountaineer Park for his fourth consecutive win. Trainer Brad Cox wrote in a text message Wednesday that Dragoon Guard is scheduled to start in the Pennsylvania Derby.

In the Kentucky Derby, Stronghold finished seventh, beaten 12 3/4 lengths, despite racing as close as fourth on the turn. Stronghold finished in front of Dornoch, who was 10th, and Fierceness, who was 15th.

Dornoch has since emerged as the leading 3-year-old in the country with wins in the Belmont Stakes and Haskell Stakes. Fierceness won his only subsequent start in the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga on July 27. Both Dornoch and Fierceness are entered in Saturday’s Grade 1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga.

D’Amato expects a strong comeback for Stronghold in the Pennsylvania Derby and argues that the colt may be underrated.

“Look who we ran against in the Kentucky Derby,” D’Amato said. “We defeated the horses that are winning the big races back East. I have just as good of a chance.

“We beat Dornoch. We beat Fierceness. We belong just as much as they do.”

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