Stronghold to target Midwest derbies

ARCADIA, Calif. – Stronghold and Endlessly, seventh and ninth, respectively, in the Kentucky Derby, were scheduled to return to Santa Anita this week to be freshened for summer campaigns. Stronghold will stay on dirt, Endlessly will return to turf, and both are likely to drop in class for their next start.

Stronghold’s trainer Phil D’Amato said “we’ll bring him back here and recharge the batteries. They’ve got a bunch of straight 3-year-old stakes in the Midwest.”

Those races include the Grade 3, $500,000 Ohio Derby on June 22 at Thistledown, the Grade 3, $300,000 Indiana Derby on July 6 at Horseshoe Indianapolis, and the $250,000 Iowa Derby on July 6 at Prairie Meadows.

Regarding Endlessly, trainer Michael McCarthy said “I don’t think he embarrassed himself [ninth in the Derby]. I thought he ran well taking dirt for the first time.”

McCarthy was asked the obvious question – back to turf for Endlessly? McCarthy’s definitive reply: “Oh yeah. Oh yeah.” A turf target for Endlessly will be determined after a freshening.

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