Stronghold takes Santa Anita Derby, punches ticket to Kentucky Derby

ARCADIA, Calif. – The circuitous career path taken by Stronghold paid handsomely Saturday at Santa Anita, when the 3-year-old homebred won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby by a neck over even-money favorite Imagination.

“We’re going to the Kentucky Derby!” owner-breeder Rick Waller shouted after he and his wife, co-owner and breeder Sharon Waller, watched Stronghold ($6.40 second choice) score his first Grade 1 victory, and third career win, in six starts.

It has been a long road for Phil D’Amato-trained colt, who was ridden perfectly Saturday by Antonio Fresu. A Ghostzapper colt produced by the Waller’s graded stakes winner Spectator, Stronghold began his career in Kentucky, relocated to California, shipped to New Mexico to win the Grade3 Sunland Derby, and took on the big boys in the Santa Anita Derby.

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“A homebred beating a million-dollar horse,” Waller exclaimed, partly in disbelief. The runner-up Imagination was purchased as a yearling for $1,050,000, and entered the Santa Anita Derby with the highest Beyer Speed Figure of 96 and a Grade 2 win over the track.

But in the weeks since Stronghold won the Sunland Derby over a modest field on Feb.18, Stronghold touted himself in morning workouts. He took dirt behind rivals, outworked older graded stakes winners, and was on point heading into the Santa Anita Derby.

“I loved the way Phil was training him,” Fresu said. “He trained him to make him as confident as possible.” Fresu was aboard for all Stronghold’s major works.

Stronghold needed confidence Saturday, and D’Amato loved how the race unfolded. “On the backside, I thought we were sitting perfect, we were hoping to get that tracking trip,” D’Amato said. “There was a nice little speed battle [in front of him] and he handled it well.”

Tapalo took the lead and the rail, hounded from the outside by Imagination. E J Won the Cup was forwardly placed three wide. Stronghold and Fresu, meanwhile, were tucked in fourth. It was right where Fresu wanted to be, sitting behind race favorite Imagination and his jockey Frankie Dettori.

“I said to Phil, no matter what happens, I want to sit behind Frankie [Dettori] and follow him, because [Imagination] is absolutely the horse to beat,” Fresu said.

Tapalo led through a half-mile in 46.73 seconds and three-quarters in 1:10.90. At the quarter pole, Fresu swung Stronghold outside Imagination, but E J Won the Cup was there. Stronghold bulled through the split between the two, battled outside Imagination and won in 1:49.98, getting an 89 Beyer Speed Figure.

“He was able to squeeze through a small hole there, and be the best,” D’Amato said.

It was 3 1/4 lengths back to E J won the Cup in third. Tapalo faded to fourth, followed in order by Wynstock, Tapalo, Mc Vay, and Tessuto.

On to Kentucky for Stronghold; D’Amato will keep him at Santa Anita until shipping arrangements are finalized. Stronghold will be returning to the Churchill Downs track on which he broke his maiden second time out. He will return as a seasoned Grade 1 winner who beat a good rival in the Santa Anita Derby.

“I think this was a great education for him,” D’Amato said. “Just a nice battle test that he’s going to need to win a race like the Kentucky Derby.”

The win was the first Santa Anita Derby for D’Amato, the first Grade 1 for the Wallers, and the first United States Grade 1 for Fresu. None have had a starter in the Kentucky Derby.

The Wallers watched the Santa Anita Derby from the press box. “I was watching the fractional times of the race, and I knew they were going pretty fast up front and I knew we were sitting back stalking,” Rick Waller said. “So I felt pretty good that those horses might want to come back.”

Stronghold is going back to Churchill Downs as the only confirmed California-based Kentucky Derby starter. California-based Endlessly, a turf-synthetic specialist, will run in either the Derby or the Grade 2 American Turf.

Santa Anita Derby runner-up Imagination is not eligible to the Kentucky Derby due to the ban the track placed on trainer Bob Baffert.

* The Santa Anita Derby was the final leg in a pick three that linked the Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, G1 Blue Grass at Keeneland, and Santa Anita Derby. The $3 wager returned $226.50 after Resilience ($11 third choice) won the Wood; Sierra Leone ($5.32 favorite) won the Blue Grass, and Stronghold ($6.40) won the Santa Anita Derby. The pick three pool was $312,251.

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