Quotes for the $500,000 Central Bank Ashland

December 10, 2019

Rusty Arnold (winning trainer of Weep No More)

“I thought she’d be that far back, and I told her (my wife, Sarah) about the half-mile pole, ‘I think she can get up for third from here.’ She just kept going, and they backed up a little bit. It was nice for the (owner) Bromagens, and we’ve been pointing for this race for two months.”

On her keys to big improvement “Two turns, and she just came around. Each race she’s been better and better. Did we expect this? Not quite, but she’s a step ahead of us.

“We’ve got the mile and eighth in the (Kentucky) Oaks (G1) coming up. Jack Bohannan did all the work with her. She was under quarantine at Payson, and he trained her two months. Great job.”

Corey Lanerie (winning rider)

Horse Racing Rebates
“At the top of the lane, to be honest, I didn’t think I would get up. I was rolling, I had a lot of horse, but with the short stretch, I was hoping to be third. Then about 70 yards from the wire, I was like, ‘C’mon baby – we can get it.’ She kept running and ran a huge race. Thanks to Rusty and them for the opportunity. What a great training job. He gave me all the confidence in the world, just to ride her, let her run her race and see what happens.”

Florent Geroux (rider of runner-up Rachel’s Valentina) “I had a great trip. Cathryn Sophia came to me a little bit earlier than what I wanted her to, but it’s part of the game; it’s a race. (Weep No More) came from nowhere and just nailed us right at the end.”

Javier Castellano (rider of third-place finisher and beaten favorite Cathryn Sophia) “It was a perfect trip; it was what I was looking for today. You have to be prepared (to duel with a good horse). It was her first time going two turns – I don't know how far she likes to go. She will move forward after this race. She tried. Today was a good test.”

John Servis (trainer of Cathryn Sophia) “The jockey said she did everything easy. He doesn’t know if she wants to go this far. I was fine (with the stretch duel), I know how gutsy she is. I really got worried when I saw (Weep No More) running through the lane. Reminded me of Birdstone (who defeated Servis’ Triple Crown hopeful Smarty Jones in the 2004 Belmont-G1) a little bit.”

Julien Leparoux (rider of fourth-place finisher Carina Mia) “(The trip) was good. She was on the lead and just got tired. She was coming off a long layoff but she tried. She ran good.”

On whether he planned to go to the lead “We didn’t really have a plan, (the race) just came up like this. We had a great post so I just kind of let her break and (saw) where she wanted to be. She just got tired at the end.”