Stronghold Returns to Racing in Indiana Derby

Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Stronghold returns to competition July 6 as he travels to Horseshoe Indianapolis for the $300,000 Indiana Derby (G3).

Last seen finishing seventh in the May 4 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs, the son of Ghostzapper has been training steadily at his Santa Anita Park base, including a bullet final tuneup of :59 for five furlongs June 30.

Photo: Zoe Metz

Stronghold (outside) breezes five furlongs in :59 at Santa Anita Park

The Derby was the first of seven starts in which Stronghold finished outside the top two. His efforts at six different tracks, including three victories, have accumulated $827,200 for owners and breeders Eric and Sharon Waller.

In addition to the Santa Anita Derby, Stronghold won the Sunland Park Derby (G3) in February. He is joined in the Indiana Derby by another two-time Derby winner, E J Won the Cup .

The Doug O’Neill-owned and trained son of Omaha Beach ‘s Derby victories have come on a much smaller scale, the Turf Paradise and Texas Derbies, but his lone start against top competition was a respectable third behind Stronghold and Imagination in the Santa Anita Derby.

Despite their success, the pair of dual-Derby winners are not favored on the morning line, an honor bestowed upon Juddmonte’s Dragoon Guard at 8-5 for his first start around two turns. The son of Arrogate has been rising in the ranks for trainer Brad Cox and is 2-for-2 since returning from a setback that ended his 2-year-old season after one start.

Entries: Indiana Derby (G3)

Horseshoe Indianapolis, Saturday, July 06, 2024, Race 12

Grade III
1 1/16m
Dirt
$300,000
3 yo
6:41 PM (local)

Impel Favored to Get First Stakes Win in Indiana Oaks

Dragoon Guard’s training partner for a June 29 five-furlong workout in 1:00 3/5 was Juddmonte and Cox stablemate Impel , the 7-5 morning-line favorite for the $200,000 Indiana Oaks (G3).

Impel - AOC - OP - 030324 — Photo: Coady Photo

Impel wins an allowance race at Oaklawn Park

Third in the 1 1/16-mile Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keeneland April 5 off back-to-back easy victories to start her career, Cox cut the Quality Road filly back to seven furlongs for the May 3 Eight Belles (G2) at Churchill Downs, where she finished second.

“Off the run in the Ashland, we ran her back a little quick,” Cox said. “Overall, I thought that was a really good effort. I think there’s a little bit of a question how far she wants to go. Based off her physical (build), I do think she’ll handle two turns.”

Should Impel fail to get the distance, a pair of California horses could look to pick up the pieces.

Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners, Dan Agnew, and William Chatalas’ Chatalas showed plenty of talent at age 2 with an Oct. 7 victory in the Chandelier (G2) at Santa Anita. The daughter of Gun Runner then ran ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and ended her season on turf with a neck defeat in the Blue Norther Stakes Dec. 29. Unraced since, the Grant Forster trainee has been training in Kentucky since June.

Also in Kentucky from California is Domeyko Taylor LP’s Charlene’s Dream . In her first start of the year, and first outside of Northern California, the two-time stakes winner finished fourth in the June 9 seven-furlong Leslie’s Lady Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Trainer Rusty Arnold ships in Glenn Bromagen II and Michael Dahir’s Neon Icon for the Oaks, who has won each of her two starts by a combined 9 3/4 lengths.