Trained by Phil D'Amato, Stronghold came into the Santa Anita Derby with a solid shot and was the 2-1 second choice, but as with most 3-year-old graded stakes at Santa Anita, he had to beat the powerful Bob Baffert barn in order to get the win. Stronghold also had to go up against the force of nature that was Frankie Dettori, Imagination's jockey. Dettori was riding an incredible day that had already netted him six consecutive wins, including the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks aboard Baffert-trained Nothing Like You.
None of that could stop Stronghold. He earned a neck decision over the Baffert-trained even-money favorite Imagination and paid $6.40 to win. Stronghold earned 100 qualifying points on the road to the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve, more than enough to secure a spot in the starting gate.
Stronghold's jockey, Antonio Fresu, had never won a Grade 1 race in the U.S., though he had already done well with Stronghold. They finished second in last year's Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes at Del Mar and second in the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity and then captured the Grade 3 Sunland Park Derby in Stronghold's 3-year-old debut.
Tapalo, a 10-1 shot coming off a second in the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields, took the lead out of the gate of the 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby, with Imagination sticking fairly close to him through the initial fractions. Fresu had Stronghold in fourth behind a first quarter-mile in :22.72 and a half-mile in :46.73.
Stronghold didn't get a completely trouble-free trip, lacking room at the quarter pole before splitting rivals at the top of the stretch. From there he took on Imagination for a stretch battle that could have gone either way. Neither colt gave in, and at the wire, Stronghold bravely stuck his neck out in front, stopping the timer in 1:49.98. Stronghold and Imagination were much the best. It was 3 1/4 lengths back to E J Won the Cup, a 23-1 longshot in third.
E J Won the Cup earned 25 Kentucky Derby points for third, Curlin's Kaos received 15, and Tapalo received 10. Imagination did not earn any points due to Churchill Downs' continuing ban of Baffert.
"He didn't really get the easiest trip coming around the turn," said D'Amato. "But luckily he was able to squeeze through a small hole there and prove that he can be the best when it comes down to the wire."
Fresu noted Stronghold's improvement.
"I love this horse from the first time I sat on him," the jockey said. "To be honest, I was very confident that he could do it – and he did it."
Owners Rick and Sharon Waller witnessed Stronghold's first career win in person in Kentucky. In another month, they may have another opportunity to see their horse win at Churchill Downs.
"It's about the achievement – I'm a small breeder, with just a couple of mares," Rick Waller said.
The Wallers have been clients of D'Amato for years, and so the win was special for him as well.
"They're great people," D'Amato said. "They've been supporters of mine since I started training. And to breed a horse to get to this point, it all the sweeter. Congrats to them."
