Todd Pletcher, winning trainer of Rachel's Valentina (No. 2): "I thought she ran fantastic. Actually, she put herself into the race a little more than I thought she would, but she seemed to be handling tracking those horses well, and getting a little dirt well. I felt like turning for home, knowing her style and watching her train, that she was going to keep coming. I've always felt like the farther she goes, the better she gets. And I think that's proven to be true. I haven't really thought about [what's next]. I'll talk to the Stonestreet people and see. The options will be pretty straightforward; it would either be the [Grade 1] Frizette [October 3, Belmont Park] or the [Grade 1] Alcibiades [October 2, Keeneland]. I think she'll have one more race if she's doing good."
John Velazquez, winning jockey aboard Rachel's Valentina (No. 2): "She was a little more aggressive than I anticipated coming out of the eight [post], and I didn't want to be hooked up with the other horses on the lead, so I had to take a good hold of her and put her behind the horses in front. She relaxed and I left her there for a while, and at the quarter pole I pulled her out. Today, she knew what it was all about. She was on the bridle, and she knew what she was supposed to do. I didn't have to do anything down the lane, just keep her mind on running, and she got it done. She's one of those horses that the farther she goes, the better she gets. Before she ran I thought three-quarters might be a little too short and she still got up there. She's pretty good."
Ralph Nicks, trainer of second-place finisher Tap to It (No. 1): "I wasn't disappointed in the race. You don't know what to expect, I was impressed with how she ran. She's a very talented horse, but hopefully she'll do better next time."
Joel Rosario, jockey aboard second-place finisher Tap to It (No. 1): "It was a good trip, she broke well and I tried to follow the No. 2 horse [Rachel's Valentina]. I thought she was the one to beat. I followed her but she was probably the best horse today."
Spinaway (G1) Quotes
December 10, 2019