(Stronghold / Photos by Holly M. Smith)

From the Santa Anita Media Team / Victor Ryan:

STRONGHOLD, GROUP I-WINNING IMPORT THE GOAT AMONG FIELD SET FOR SUNDAY’S GRADE III TRIPLE BEND STAKES GOING 7 FURLONGS AT SANTA ANITA

ARCADIA, CA (May 26, 2026)—Grade I winner Stronghold and South American import The Goat, a top-level winner in Chile, are among a compact field set to go in the Grade III, $100,000 Triple Bend Stakes going seven furlongs at Santa Anita on Sunday.

Stronghold most notably won the GI Santa Anita Derby in 2024 before finishing seventh in that year’s Kentucky Derby. Trained by Phil D’Amato, Stronghold most recently returned from a nearly eight-month layoff at Oaklawn Park in a high-level allowance going 1 1/16 miles. He dead-heated for the win, finishing four lengths clear of the third-place finisher. A homebred for Eric Waller and Sharon Waller, the 5-year-old horse by Ghostzapper is 13: 4-7-0 with $1,279,200 in earnings. He’ll be ridden by Antonio Fresu.

The Goat makes his U.S. debt for trainer John Sadler and owner-breeder Don Alberto Stable. A 5-year-old horse by Midshipman, The Goat hasn’t started since December 2024 when he won the GI St. Leger in his native Chile. He lost only once in five starts in South America. The Goat has worked eight times since March 29 for his local unveiling. He’ll be ridden by Emisael Jaramillo.

The Last Straw, a 4-year-old colt by Into Mischief out of multiple Grade I winner Bast, makes his stakes debut for trainer Richard Mandella and owner-breeder Spendthrift Farm. The Last Straw is exiting an allowance win going six furlongs at Santa Anita when he attended a hot pace and finished gamely to prevail by a half-length on May 10. The Last Straw will break from the rail under Hall of Famer Mike Smith.

THE GRADE III TRIPLE BEND WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 8 of 9 Approximate post time 4:30 p.m. PT

  1. The Last Straw—Mike Smith—122
  2. Bartholdy—Tyler Baze—122
  3. The Goat—Emisael Jaramillo—126
  4. Simple Song—Kazushi Kimura—122
  5. Stronghold—Antonio Fresu—126

First post Sunday is 1 p.m. PT.