Arkansas Derby (G1) Quotes

Jockey Joe Bravo: (Danza, 1st): "That was a pretty great effort. Todd was pretty high on the horse and he told me this morning that he was going to be fresh so don' take anything away from him. Try to save as much as you can and let him run his race. It was textbook, just textbook. Everything unfolded like a dream. That was pretty cool down the lane. It's really fun to have a special horse like that and have him run like that. I'm not a fortune teller, but hopefully, in a couple of weeks we can do that again. I'm crossing my fingers he's my Derby horse. This is what dreams are made of. You've got to take your hat off to Todd Pletcher. He knows how to bring them around at the right time of the year. Nobody does it year in and year out the way he does. I'm so happy for Mr. Wellman and Eclipse Thoroughbreds. They put so much into the game. They deserve and good one, and I think they've got him.

Trainer Todd Pletcher (Danza, 1st, Commissioner, 6th) “We were searching for the right race and the right option and it seemed like the Arkansas Derby was the race for us to step out and take our shot. We’re certainly very excited that we did and very proud of the way the horse ran today. I don’t remember winning a Grade 1 at 40-1, but it’s not very often that our horses pay those type of mutuels. We narrowed it down between the Blue Grass and the Arkansas Derby and it we thought the race would set up a little better there. Also with dirt, that was the tie breaker. We like the way both horses were training and anticipated Commissioner running better than he did. Danza came in fresher with only one start this year. Both horses were training well coming in to the race. It wasn’t Commissioner’s day. I wasn’t aware of his antics until after the race. But, I would have to think that it effected his performance in a negative way.”

Jockey Jon Court (Ride On Curlin): “Everything came together and he’s been pressed his last couple of races. Actually, he tested me on the backside like it’s time to go. I had to just put him in a position to settle and I knew I had a lot of horse turning for home. I was kind of taken back to see the one horse just continue coming off that 7/8ths.I thought he was making a move and I made my move and he out finished us. He’s to be respected, it was a good field of horse flesh.”

Jockey Gary Stevens (Bayern, 3rd): "I had a good comfortable trip, a nice comfortable pace and it picked up nice. Approaching the quarter-pole, the winner came up inside of me. I thought I was going to be able to stay with him and I thought my horse was going to give him a little fight, but he didn't."

Jim Barnes, assistant to Bob Baffert (Bayern, 3rd): "I have to talk to Bob and see what he thinks. I would have liked to have seen him let him run and maybe come after him."

Trainer Steve Asmussen (Tapiture, 4th): "The race didn't work out the way we wanted today. I thought he was pretty wide behind a moderate pace and that made it a very long race for him today. We'll see how he comes of it. He goes on to Louisville tomorrow and we'll see where we go from there."

Oaklawn Handicap (G2) Quotes

Owner Willis Horton “I didn’t see that much of a problem,” Horton said. “Of course the stewards took their time about making it come true, and they did. (after inquiry) I feel good, I feel better than I did before the race. I’ve got a little life in me now. I’m sure proud of what just happened. Really the other horse was coming out as he was drifting in. There was a brush there, but it didn’t amount to anything.”

Glenda Horton: “It was real exciting. I couldn’t breathe,” Horton said. “This horse means a lot. We have a lot of enjoyment out of watching this horse run.”

Trainer Todd Pletcher (Revolutionary, 2nd and Golden Lad, 5th) “I thought he ran terrific and it was a little unlucky that things got tight. He tried to re-rally but couldn’t get there.” (Revolutionary)

(Golden Lad): “He had a really good trip to the 1/8th pole. He kind of lost a little momentum when Will Take Charge came over on him. He lost any chance he had at that point. He was working hard to hold his ground at that point.”

Elliott Walden, general manager of WinStar Farm's Revolutionary (2nd): "It was close. I think he (Mike Smith) had to check fro a split second and we ending losing by a half-length. It was worth looking at. Will Take Charge is a great horse and our horse ran really well."

Jockey Mike Smith (2nd Revolutionary): "My horse ran really great. He (Will Take Charge) came over a little bit. I had to wait. I would have liked to see what the outcome was (otherwise) because I only got beat a neck, and two jumps past the wire I was in front. It was a 50-50 call and I understand that. It was a judgment call and it just didn't go my way."