ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) — Stronghold defeated favored Imagination in a furious duel to the finish to win the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby by a neck on Saturday and earn a spot in next month's Kentucky Derby.
It will be the first Derby starter for trainer Phil D'Amato and first Derby mount for jockey Antonio Fresu.
Stronghold ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.98 under Fresu, who earned his first career Grade 1 victory in the United States. He kissed the brown colt's neck in the winner's circle.
"I love this horse from the first time I sat on him," the Italian jockey said. "I was very confident that he could do it, and he did it."
Imagination, the even-money favorite trained by six-time Kentucky Derby winner Bob Baffert, returned $2.80 and $2.20. His other entry, Wynstock, finished sixth in the eight-horse field.
"In the stretch I was vulnerable for a closer," said Frankie Dettori, who was aboard Imagination. "When he passed us, my horse kept fighting back. We were head-and-head and he was too strong for me down the lane."
E J Won the Cup, trained by two-time Kentucky Derby winner Doug O'Neill, was another 3 1/4 lengths back in third and paid $4.60 to show.
Stronghold earned 100 qualifying points for the May 4 Derby. Imagination didn't earn any points because Churchill Downs has banned Baffert for a third consecutive year.
"It was a nice little speed battle there, and he handled it well," D'Amato said. "This was a great education for him, and a nice test that he's going to need to win a race like the Kentucky Derby."
Earlier on the card, Dettori won six straight races — the second through the seventh — with mostly long shots. He tied the record for most consecutive victories in one day at Santa Anita set by Flavien Prat on March 12, 2021.
