Stronghold Wins Battle With Imagination in SA Derby

The day before Stronghold  broke his maiden at Churchill Downs last fall, Rick and Sharon Waller bought a filly from the colt's family for $200,000 at the Fasig-Tipton California yearling sale. They then hopped on a plane from California to Kentucky to witness Stronghold's first win in person. In another month, they may have another opportunity to see their horse win at Churchill because Stronghold earned 100 points to the Kentucky Derby (G1) with his victory in the April 6 Santa Anita Derby (G1).

Rick becomes emotional whenever he's talking about Stronghold's family, having nurtured it since the colt's fourth dam, One Stop . Along the way has come plenty of heartache, as the third dam, Swiss Diva , died while giving birth to the second dam, Diva's Tribute . Then Stronghold's dam, the Jimmy Creed   mare Spectator , died while giving birth to him. Stronghold, who was always precious to his breeders, became even more so—and now he grabbed the brass ring as a grade 1 winner and a chance at the golden ring.

"It's about the achievement—I'm a small breeder, with just a couple of mares," Rick said. 

Stronghold, trained by Phil D'Amato, came into the Santa Anita Derby with a solid shot and was made the 2-1 second choice. But as with most 3-year-old graded stakes at Santa Anita, he had to face the powerful Bob Baffert barn. In this case, that meant even-money favorite Imagination , winner of the March 3 San Felipe Stakes (G2), and 7-1 third choice Wynstock , winner of the Dec. 16 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2).

He also had to go up against the force of nature that is Frankie Dettori, Imagination's jockey. Dettori had an incredible day gilded by six consecutive wins, including the Santa Anita Oaks (G1) aboard Baffert-trained Nothing Like You . Though Dettori finally lost a race when third on Getthemoney  in the Monrovia Stakes (G3T), he had momentum heading into the Derby.

Stronghold's jockey, Antonio Fresu, had never won a grade 1 race in the United States, though he had done well with Stronghold. They finished second in last year's Bob Hope Stakes (G3) at Del Mar and Los Alamitos Futurity and then captured the Sunland Park Derby (G3) 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 for 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, as it was 3 1/4 lengths back to third-place E J Won the Cup , a 23-1 longshot.

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 for second under Churchill's 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 had noted Stronghold's improvement.

"I love this horse from the first time I sat on him," the jockey said. "I saw all the time I breezed him and been riding him with every race I see his improvement. To be honest, I was very confident that he could to it—and he did it."

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's all the sweeter. So congrats to them."

The Wallers may have a small breeding operation, but Rick puts much thought into stallions for his mares. He chose Ghostzapper   to breed to Spectator, a granddaughter of Distorted Humor .

"Spectator went on to win the Sorrento Stakes and finished second in the Santa Anita Oaks to Midnight Bisou  (champion older dirt female of 2019)," he said. "When I retired Spectator and bred her, I was looking at all the top stallions. I decided I just liked Ghostzapper. I liked the cross of Ghostzapper over Distorted Humor mares."

Stronghold is the first 2024 stakes winner by Ghostzapper, the 2004 Horse of the Year and a member of the Hall of Fame. Ghostzapper's other runners include champion female sprinters Goodnight Olive  and Judy the Beauty , Canadian Horse of the Year Moira , and Canadian champion Shaman Ghost  . The stallion stands for $75,000 at Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa Farms near Paris, Ky.

Video: Santa Anita Derby (G1)