Feb 23, 2023 — While top Santa Anita-based trainer Phil D’Amato has never had a starter in the Kentucky Derby, that could change this year following Stronghold’s victory in the G3 Sunland Park Derby this past Sunday in New Mexico. With 25 points in all, he now ranks fourth on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.
“We don’t have a race targeted at this point. We’re going to look at all the preps and try to find the right one that gives us a chance to make the Kentucky Derby,” D’Amato said.