Report: Stronghold will bypass Breeders’ Cup, return in Malibu

Trainer Phil D'Amato will not enter Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby winner Stronghold in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

Instead, D'Amato will give Stronghold an autumn rest and target him toward the Malibu (G1) on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita, according to a report Sunday from Steve Andersen of Daily Racing Form. D'Amato told DRF that they were going to rest him at some point during the fall whether or not he ran in the Breeders' Cup, and that he has decided to rest him now in advance of the Malibu and a 4-year-old campaign.

Stronghold, a 3-year-old son of Ghostzapper, races as a homebred for Eric and Sharon Waller. Twice placed at the graded-stakes level as a juvenile, he won both the Sunland Park Derby (G3) and the Santa Anita Derby this spring.

After a seventh-place finish behind Mystik Dan in the Kentucky Derby, he has run twice more. He finished second in both starts, 2 1/2 lengths behind Dragoon Guard in the Indiana Derby (G3) on July 6, and then 3 3/4 lengths behind Preakness winner Seize the Grey in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1).