Fierceness’ jockey, John Velazquez, also rode the Wood Memorial winner on Saturday. After breaking his maiden in his fourth attempt, Resilience finished fourth in the Grade 2 Risen Star, won by Sierra Leone, in his stakes race debut. Mott added blinkers for the Wood.

A $1.05 million yearling purchase at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Imagination was the even-money favorite in the Santa Anita Derby after winning the Grade 2 San Felipe. Stronghold was coming off a win in the the Grade 3 Sunland Derby for trainer Phil D’Amato on Feb. 18.

The Blue Grass winner hasn’t worn the garland of roses on Kentucky Derby day since Strike the Gold in 1991. Based on Saturday, Sierra Leone has a legitimate shot to end that drought.

Owned by Peter Brant, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg and Brook T. Smith, the dark bay colt won his career debut as a 2-year-old before losing by a nose to Dornoch in last year’s Remsen Stakes. In his 3-year-old debut, Sierra Leone made a strong rally in the stretch to beat pacesetter Track Phantom to win the Risen Star by a half length on Feb. 17. it was his first race in blinkers.

His Blue Grass victory came against a respectable field — runner-up Just a Touch now has a win and two second-place finishes in his three career races for trainer Brad Cox — under less-than-ideal circumstances.

“He’s a special horse,” Brown said Saturday. “He was a special horse since he was born. He’s an unbelievable physical specimen. You can’t fault him anywhere. We’re lucky to have him in our barn.”

Brown was runner-up to Triple Crown winner Justify in the 2018 Kentucky Derby with Good Magic. He was third in the 2022 running with Zandon.

Said the trainer of Sierra Leone and the Derby: “We just have to get him there healthy.”

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