Toyota Blue Grass (G1) Quotes

December 10, 2019

Peter Eurton (winning trainer of Dance With Fate)

On whether Dance With Fate will run in the Kentucky Derby (G1) Presented by Yum! Brands “I just don’t know. It’s three weeks and kind of quick back. I know he loves synthetic better, (likes) turf. I just don’t know if he likes dirt. I know I’m going to hear it from everybody, though.”

Corey Nakatani (winning rider)

“They were actually going a little slower than I anticipated, but being on the Polytrack you don’t know what’s going to happen. In talking with Peter (Eurton) about the race before, he said, ‘If you can, get him to switch off and just have a target for him to run at, save a little and just make your best run when it counts,’ and I said. ‘Ok, let’s do it.’ ”

On whether the colt could get the 1¼-mile distance of the Kentucky Derby

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“I don’t have any doubt he can do that. It’s just a matter of whether he’ll handle the Churchill Downs surface at this point. He’s done things right. He seems to do well on the grass, and at Churchill, I’ve won the (Kentucky) Oaks (G1) on a filly that won on the grass (Pike Place Dacer in 1996) so hopefully we’ll get (Dance With Fate) there after this race.”

Robby Albarado (rider of runner-up Medal Count)

“He acted like a good horse today. He ranged to (the leader) like a good horse. He had a wide trip both turns. With a field like this, you kind of expect that at Keeneland, with the Polytrack, whereas on traditional dirt they kind of stretch themselves out pretty good and you can kind of weave your way in and out. He’s a grown-up horse now. He’s got a lot of hair on his chest, all the trouble he’s been in in his career. He’s a man now.”

Dale Romans (trainer of Medal Count)

“The 13 hole’s not the best and he was a bit wide on both turns, but I think that’s better for this horse than being stuck inside and having to stop and start. So everything went well. I didn’t see a real problem with (the trip). In a 14-horse field, you can’t expect to have a perfect trip unless you’re just going to be on the lead.”

Victor Espinoza (jockey of third-place finisher Pablo Del Monte)

"He broke OK and I was able to take the lead easy. He was nice and comfortable and was just loping around. Turning for home, he spooked a little bit and it cost him a few strides. I still thought he had enough (to win) because he was going so easy. When he lost his stride, it kind of cost me but he was able to recover. I thought I would at least get second.”

Wesley Ward (trainer of Pablo Del Monte)

“The plan was, I told Victor, to ride him just like he rode that horse (California Chrome) in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), and he was only two spots away. Very happy with how he ran. We’re ecstatic and very proud of him.”

Brian Hernandez Jr. (rider of fourth-place finisher Big Bazinga)

“He ran a big race. We had a great trip up until about the three-eighths pole when we had to wait a little while for a little clearing. Once he got through, he came running again.”

Alan Garcia (rider of fifth-place finisher Coltimus Prime) “We had a great trip. He finished very strong and I was very happy with his performance. He’s a very nice horse and he’s going to improve a lot off this.”

John Velazquez (rider of sixth-place finisher Gala Award)

“We were far out there (in the 14 post position) and I couldn’t get to where I wanted to so I dropped in as far as I could. I don’t think he liked the track. He kept bouncing up and down the whole way around and was never comfortable and couldn’t get in any good rhythm.”

Joe Rocco Jr. (rider of seventh-place finisher So Lonesome)

“Nice colt. He didn't get off too good, and I think that really compromised his start, because he was too far back from where we wanted to be." Emma-Jayne Wilson (rider of eighth-place finisher Asserting Bear) “The one hole wasn't something we were too concerned about, but he was in there (starting gate) quite a while and balled up on us and didn't break as sharply as we would've liked, which put us in a pocket. The rail’s not that good right now. (I was) trying to give him an opportunity to get out and by the time I got out, he doesn't kick the way those horses kick. He’s a steady gain and by the time we got a run, it was too little, too late.”

Rajiv Maragh (rider of ninth-place finisher Casiguapo) “My horse tried hard. He just couldn’t match strides with the top horses at the end. He was running good early on. He made me think I had a great shot at winning but then they picked it up strong at the finish and they left him.”

Stewart Elliott (rider of 10th-place finisher Coastline)

“Well, I thought we had good position and he was running along nice and comfortable and then at the end of the race he just stopped.”

Julian Pimentel (rider of 11th-place finisher Extrasexyhippzster)

“I had a perfect trip. I was lying on the rail and saving some ground around the turn. I thought I had some horse left but they just ran away from me.”

Javier Castellano (rider of 12th-place finisher and 7-2 favorite Bobby’s Kitten)

“He ran a good race but unfortunately I don’t think he liked the Polytrack. He was (strong) in the beginning, but he relaxed on the backside. That was not a problem.”

Chad Brown (trainer of Bobby’s Kitten)

“That was not what we were looking for, but we gave it a try. In the second half of the race, he lost (interest) and didn’t seem to care for the track. He was a little keen down the backside, and I thought Javier did a good job to keep him relaxed as much as he could. (Bobby’s Kitten) will be back on turf next time.”

Rosie Napravnik (rider of 13th-place finisher Harry’s Holiday)

“I had to run for position into the first turn, and there were a couple of us in pretty tight. But I ended up in a great spot. We didn’t really have an excuse from there.”

Julien Leparoux (rider of 14th-place finisher Vinceremos)

“(The race) set up like we thought. He broke good and I put him in the race – a little wider at the (first) turn but (being in) the number 12 (post position), there is nothing we can do. He sat there very nice and relaxed but when the race started to get going at the three-eighths pole he just didn’t really kick at the end.”

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