More than two years after his Santa Anita Derby triumph, Stronghold made it back to the Santa Anita winner’s circle by outsprinting four opponents in the Grade III Triple Bend Stakes on Sunday.
Phil D’Amato-trained Stronghold (who paid $3) and jockey Antonio Fresu tracked early lead Simple Song and then took over in the stretch. The Goat finished third in the U.S. debut for the Chilean Grade I winner.
“I’m glad he’s back in good form,” owner Rick Waller said of 5-year-old Stronghold, who was 0 for 6 at the stakes level at six tracks since the April 2024 Santa Anita Derby. “We’re looking forward to using this win to catapult him into a wonderful summer.”
Waller said the Grade II San Diego Handicap on July 18 at Del Mar is a possible next race.
Fresu has a big week ahead. He’s scheduled to ride Vitruvian Man for trainer Doug O’Neill in the Belmont Stakes next Saturday at Saratoga. Vitruvian Man, third in the Santa Anita Derby, is the only California-based horse expected to be entered in the Belmont before post positions and morning-line odds are set Monday.
Related Posts:
- Santa Anita consensus picks for Friday, May 29, 2026 News The consensus box of Santa Anita horse racing picks comes from handicappers Bob Mieszerski, Eddie Wilson, Kevin Modesti and Mark Ratzky. Here are the picks for thoroughbred races on Friday, May 29, 2026. Trouble viewing on mobile device? See consensus picks Enjoy the consensus horse racing picks online? Subscribe Sign…
- Santa Anita consensus picks for Saturday, May 30, 2026 News The consensus box of Santa Anita horse picks comes from handicappers Bob Mieszerski, Eddie Wilson, Kevin Modesti and Mark Ratzky. Here are the picks for thoroughbred races on Saturday, May 30, 2026. Trouble viewing on mobile device? See consensus picks Enjoy the consensus horse racing picks online? Subscribe Sign up…
- Om N Joy, Kent Desormeaux rally for Santa Anita upset News Om N Joy surged from a distant last with jockey Kent Desormeaux to score a career-best victory in the Grade II Santa Margarita Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday, regaining her mid-2025 form while Seismic Beauty couldn’t. Four-year-old Om N Joy, a California-bred filly trained by Aggie Ordonez, won for…
- Santa Anita consensus picks for Sunday, May 31, 2026 News The consensus box of Santa Anita horse racing picks comes from handicappers Bob Mieszerski, Eddie Wilson, Kevin Modesti and Mark Ratzky. Here are the picks for thoroughbred races on Sunday, May 31, 2026. Trouble viewing on mobile device? See consensus picks Enjoy the consensus horse racing picks online? Subscribe Sign…
- Jeremy Clarkson in tears as Hawkstone Farmers Choir is declared Britain’s Got Talent winner Entertainment The Hawkstone Farmers Choir has won Britain’s Got Talent 2026 (Picture: Dymond/TalkbackThames/Shutterstock) After another series of controversial golden buzzer moments, nail-biting stunt acts, and classic Ant and Dec gags, the winner of Britain’s Got Talent 2026 has been revealed. Tonight, 10 finalists performed for the final time in a bid…
(Visited 2 times, 2 visits today)