D’Amato sees the added distance as a positive. “Stronghold is a horse that just continues to improve, and I think it’s the further the better with him,” D’Amato said. “He does just enough.

Stronghold, winner of the 2024 Santa Anita Derby (G1) for trainer Phil D'Amato, breezed over the main track in 1:01 2/5 while Doug O'Neill-trained 2024 Pacific Classic (G1) winner Mixto went the ...