Sierra Leone takes Blue Grass Stakes

Sierra Leone rebounded from a testy entry to the gate and a tail-end run through the backstretch to overtake Just A Touch down the stretch and win the $1 million Blue Grass Stakes by 1½ lengths at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky., to qualify for next month’s 150th Kentucky Derby . . . Stronghold defeated favored Imagination in a furious duel to the finish and won the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby by a neck to earn a spot in the Kentucky Derby. It will be the first Derby starter for trainer Phil D'Amato and first Derby mount for jockey Antonio Fresu. Stronghold ran 1ƒ miles in 1:49.98 under Fresu, who earned his first career Grade 1 victory in the United States.