Stronghold

Stronghold was victorious in his second lifetime start in a 2-year-old maiden race at Churchill Downs on Oct. 1, 2023. That race served as a launching pad into graded stakes competition and Stronghold was immediately competitive at that level, first with a runner-up finish in the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes at Del Mar on Nov. 19, and then with another second-place finish in the Grade 2 $200,000 Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 16.

The Ghostzapper colt earned five qualifying points toward entry into the 2024 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve with that runner-up finish, and he resurfaced for his 3-year-old debut on Feb. 18 in the Sunland Park Derby, another points race. Stronghold pressured pacesetter Lucky Jeremy through the backstretch and far turn of the 1 1/16-mile race and, despite drifting out, took over in the homestretch to secure a 2 ½ length-victory and 20 more qualifying points.

Stronghold earned his breakthrough career-best victory and punched his ticket into the Kentucky Derby when he won the $750,000 Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby atop an eight-horse field going 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita on April 6. Sent off as the 2.20-1 second choice in the wagering, Stronghold stalked a solid pace throughout in mid-pack and burst through between horses at the top of the stretch and hooked-up in a stretch battle with favored Imagination until prevailing by a neck. The Santa Anita Derby was a maximum points qualifying prep race on the road to the Kentucky Derby, and with his victory, Stronghold banked 100 points and a spot in the starting gate for the run for the roses.

Stronghold is trained by Phil D'Amato. He was bred in Kentucky and is out of the mare Spectator, by Jimmy Creed.