Stronghold, winner of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in 2024 and a close second in the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes at Del Mar in August, will not race again this year, trainer Phil D’Amato said on Friday.
“You won’t see him until next year,” he said. “He’s not had time off at the farm since I’ve had him as a 2-year-old. He’ll get 60 days.”
D’Amato said Eric and Sharon Waller, who bred and own Stronghold, have high hopes for him as a 5-year-old in 2026, and would rather focus on that season than the previously discussed goal of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 1.
“They want to campaign him next year,” D’Amato said. “If we’re going to try to win some Grade 1’s next year, let’s do it with a fresh horse.”
Stronghold has started twice this year, finishing 10th of 11 in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park in January, and losing the Pat O’Brien Stakes by a half-length to Dr. Venkman on Aug. 23. With that win, Dr. Venkman earned a fees-paid berth to the BC Dirt Mile.
“He ran hard the other day,” D’Amato said. “With a win, maybe we’d have run in the BC Dirt Mile and then given him time off.”
D’Amato may have runners in as many as three Breeders’ Cup prep races at Santa Anita on Sept. 27, the second day of the track’s autumn meeting that begins on Friday.
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Gold Phoenix, winner of the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap on Aug. 30 for an unprecedented fourth consecutive year, is a possible starter in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at 1 1/4 miles. D’Amato had previously stated that Gold Phoenix would not race again until the BC Turf on Nov. 1.
“Gold Phoenix is possible,” D’Amato said. “He came out of the race in really good shape. I’m going to see another breeze and decide. I’d say he’s maybe 50-50.”
Almendares, second in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on turf on Aug. 30, is scheduled to start in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile on turf on Sept. 27. The winner of the $200,000 City of Hope Mile receives a fees-paid berth to the BC Mile on Nov. 1. The City of Hope Mile is expected to include Johannes, who was second in the 2024 BC Mile at Del Mar.
Almendares was beaten a half-length by BC Mile hopeful Formidable Man in the Del Mar Mile.
“I think he’s rounding into solid form,” D’Amato said. “He’s becoming more consistent this year. I’m very happy with how he looks.”
D’Amato said a second-place finish by Almendares in the City of Hope Mile may be enough to consider the BC Mile.
“He’d have to run a good one-two to be considered in my eyes,” he said.
There are no race plans for King of Gosford, winner of the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita in May. King of Gosford finished last of six in the Del Mar Mile, and was later found to have sustained two significant cuts on a hind leg. King of Gosford has not had a workout since the Del Mar Mile.
Sorrento Sky, seventh by two lengths in the Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap at Del Mar on Aug. 30, is scheduled to run in the Grade 2 Eddie D Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course on Sept. 27. Sorrento Sky has been second or third in two sprint stakes on turf in the last year, but has yet to win at that level.
The Eddie D Stakes could produce runners for the BC Turf Sprint. D’Amato has a leading domestic contender for that race in Motorious, winner of the Green Flash.
The Sept. 27 program has five stakes, led by the Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes at 1 1/8 miles. The winner of the $300,000 Goodwood receives a fees paid berth to the BC Classic on Nov. 1.
The Grade 3 John C. Harris Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the hillside turf course is part of the program. The $100,000 Harris Stakes was previously known as the Unzip Me Stakes and has been renamed in honor of the prominent California owner and breeder who died in July.
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