Sunland Derby 2024 | Sunland Park Replay [Kentucky Derby]

The Phil D’Amato-trained Stronghold won the 2024 Sunland Derby (G3) at Sunland Park Racetrack, a Kentucky Derby (G1) prep race.

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The press release:

Shipping from his Southern California base with trainer Phil D’Amato, Eric and Sharon Waller’s homebred Stronghold pulled away to a 2 1/2-length triumph as the 6-5 favorite in the $400,000 Sunland Derby (G3) Sunday.

The Kentucky-bred Ghostzapper colt covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.64 and returned $4.40 for the victory. Alotaluck was second, and Lucky Jeremy, who was pressed by the winner for the first half mile, took third in the field of eight 3-year-olds. Curlin’s Kaos was fourth and Informed Patriot was fifth.

The Sunland Park Derby, shortened from 1 1/8 miles last year, is a Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifier and provided points on a 20-10-6-4-2 scale to the top five finishers.

Stronghold vied for the early lead with Lucky Jeremy, who clicked off opening fractions of :23.69 and :47.45 while 14-1 longshot Alotaluck stalked closely in third. Bidding three wide off the turn to take charge Stronghold began drifting six wide in the stretch, but Fresu soon straightened him and he kick on to get the win.

Stronghold earned his first stakes win Sunday and padded his Derby points total to 25 after garnering five points for his runner-up finish behind Wynstock in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) Dec. 16. to close his juvenile campaign. Prior to that, he also registered a second to Nysos in the Bob Hope (G3) Nov. 19 at Del Mar following his maiden-breaking win Oct. 1 at Churchill Downs in his second career start.

Stronghold, who was produced by Grade 2 winner Spectator, by Jimmy Creed, lifted the $232,800 winner’s share of the Sunland Park Derby purse, increasing his lifetime purse earnings to $377,200.