Stronghold wins Sunland Park Derby, 20 Kentucky Derby points
After closely pursuing the early pace, post-time favorite Stronghold took command in the second turn, lugged out in the homestretch and still prevailed by about two lengths Sunday in the Grade 3, $400,000 Sunland Park Derby, a 1 1/16-mile points prep for Kentucky Derby 2024.
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A runner-up in two graded stakes in California, Stronghold (6-5) won for the first time since his maiden-breaking victory Oct. 1 at Churchill Downs.
The Ghostzapper colt bred and owned by Eric and Sharon Waller carried jockey Antonio Fresu to the right flank of rail-hugging pacesetter Lucky Jeremy (3-1), who established early fractions of 23.69 and 47.45 seconds.
Stronghold moved into the lead as the timer showed 1:11.32 for the first three-quarters of a mile. Turning into the stretch, he still had plenty left even though he drifted nearly to the center of the track before Fresu pointed him in the right direction through a mile in 1:36.01 and a winning time of 1:42.64 on the fast dirt course.
“It’s only his second race long,” winning trainer Phil D’Amato said. “I think he’s still a horse learning, but this race should hopefully do him a world of good.”
Alotaluck (14-1) was third for most of the race before Óscar Ceballos moved him forward to finish second. Lucky Jeremy held on for third place. Curlin’s Kaos (16-1) came in fourth, and Informed Patriot (8-5) took fifth. Da Ringo (49-1), No Trouble (46-1) and Surroundedbyangels (42-1), the longest shots on the board, finished sixth through last in the field of eight.
The top five finishers got 20-10-6-4-2 points toward getting to the Kentucky Derby on May 4. With 14 preps still to be run, Stronghold moved into fourth place in the qualifying standings.
Stronghold paid $4.40, $3.00 and $2.40; Alotaluck $9.40 and $4.40; and Lucky Jeremy $2.80.
D’Amato said he did not know yet where Stronghold would start next.
“Probably one prep that we have not determined yet,” he said. “Hopefully that prep leads us to the Kentucky Derby.”