LOUISIANA
DERY DAY STAKES QUOTES
Race 6-$100,000 Duncan F. Kenner Stakes
Three-year-olds and up, six furlongs, 59th running
Trainer Steve Margolis (Cash Refund, winner):
“He came into this race breathing fire. My assistant who gallops him
has said he’s been a tiger in the mornings. We’re real, real excited.
“We’ve got the Churchill Downs (Grade II, $250,000, Kentucky Derby Day, May 1, at seven furlongs) and the Aristides (Grade
III, $100,000, May 29, six furlongs). We’ve got Country Day, too, who’s coming off a big one in
Hot Springs and he ran a 106 Beyer. We’ve got two horses who are both top sprinters right now.
“Our ultimate goal would be the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. It’s in our backyard this year. This horse ran a big Beyer second-time
out last year and a big race in the Matt Winn. We’ve always felt he had a tremendous amount of speed.
“These horses that run this hard you have to do the right thing and not run them so often. You want them fresh so they fire
every time they run.”
Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. (Cash Refund, winner): “He’s just naturally a fast horse.
When he leaves there he leaves there on his feet and you just stay out of his way and let a good horse do what he does.
“Being on the outside of Euroears was kind of the plan just to kind of see where he would end up and he settled pretty good
there for the first mile. Then it was kind of ‘game on’ and he was working it doing his job.
“Once my horse got under his weight Euroears kind of outfooted him. We just followed Kensei over and when we got to the head
of the lane he just went on about his business quite easily.”
NOTE:
The final time of 1:09.13 was the fastest six furlongs of the meet.
Race 7-$60,000
Crescent City
Derby
Louisiana-bred 3-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles, 38th running
Trainer Steve Asmussen (Heavenville, winner):
“We obviously wanted to route him. Shaun gave him a great trip today and he ran great.”
Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan (Heavenville winner): “He ran real good today. He broke and
he wanted to go. When the other ones went he settled real nice. I had them at any point and he ran real good.”
Race 8-Grade II, $300,000
New Orleans Handicap
Four-year-olds and up, 1 1/8 miles, 85th running
Mike Dilger, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher (Battle
Plan, winner):
“He’s got the heart of a big galloping horse and he’s always got more
than it seems. He always has a little kick left even thought it might
not look like it but he always has something left in his heart. So we
always know from now on that in the lead with him is OK.
“We kind of expected that he would have the lead and would be there on his own. Javier’s been doing very well lately.
“He and Johnny (Velazquez, first-call rider for Pletcher) have a good relationship and they talk a lot about the horses and
how to ride them. It works well for everybody.”
Jockey Javier Castellano (Battle Plan, winner):
“He was galloping very relaxed, not using much energy. He seemed to be
very comfortable with the track. I’m really comfortable with the way he
did it today. You know he wanted the lead … he is so comfortable in the
lead just to gallop along and after that he took off.”
Trainer Tom McCarthy (General Quarters, second): “I was hoping for a little bit more
pace; it was slower than we’d hoped for. I’m happy the way we finished up.”
Jockey Robby Albarado (General Quarters, second):
“We had a great trip, just got outrun.”
Jockey David Flores (Awesome Gem, third):
“I had a good trip until I got to the quarter-pole; I got stopped right
there for a couple jumps and by the time I got out the leaders were
gone and it was too much to make up. When I made my run it was too much
to do. It’s a long stretch but you can only make so much up, especially
when they’re such good horses.”
Jockey Curt Bourque (Star Guitar, fourth): “He ran great. The pace was a little slower
than I’d hoped for but when I asked him he did pick it up.”
Race 9-Grade II, $300,000 Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap
Four-year-olds and up, 1 1/8 miles on turf, 18th running
Mike Dilger, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher (Blues Street,
winner):
“I was a bit worried when I saw him tuck in like that but the horse
really dug in for him there at the end. Last time was his career best
and this was probably equal to that today. Where he goes next is really
a question for Todd.”
Jockey Javier Castellano (Blues Street,
winner):
“I didn’t want to change his style from the last time we were
here (winning the Feb. 20 Fair Grounds Handicap). He was an off the
pace horse that day and I wanted to do the same thing. That’s exactly
what happened and I had a good result today.”
Jockey Miguel Mena (Transduction Gold, third):
“The old horse ran a huge race today. He made a big move down the lane.”
Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan (Jet Propulsion, fourth):
“He tried all the way. He ran a good, honest effort.”
Trainer Ralph Nicks (El Caballo, sixth):
“It was a dull effort today. To me he was never taking
him at any point. I don’t know. He trained good going into it and
seemed fine; today we just got a dull effort. Beyond that he just
didn’t show up, which is abnormal for him.”
Race 10-Grade II, $750,000
Louisiana Derby
Three-year-olds, 1 1/8 miles, 97th running
Trainer Todd Pletcher (Mission Impazible, winner):
“That was kind of the way we had talked about it. We wanted to secure a
little bit of position from the inside and hopefully come away stalking
the leaders and he was able to maneuver exactly the trip that we were
hoping for and then he was able to find a little more down the lane.”
“We’ll take him back to Palm Meadows and see how he comes out of it but that’s why we were there today (to earn a spot in
the Kentucky Derby).”
Jockey Rajiv Maragh (Mission Impazible, winner):
“It was very ideal for me the way it played out. Todd really didn’t
give a lot of instructions but he did say not to get tangled up with
Discreetly Mine on the front end. ‘Whatever you guys do don’t wear each
other out.’ Everything worked out. The horse was always there for me,
always willing to go, and that made my ride much easier.
“The
horse broke sharply. He had natural speed so he was always in
contention off the leaders. Fortunately the two horses that were
battling for the lead were the first choice and the [third] choice so I
always feel comfortable following horses like that. When they made
their move coming off the turn I just followed them and angled out and
my horse really finished up strong and ran by the leader.
“It
was a good trip. My horse was always in contention and always tracking
comfortably. He finished strongly and pulled away at the end. It’s good
to have this opportunity . . . hopefully. I hope all goes well. It’s
always good to have prospects rather than to have none. We got the
money today. I don’t want to think too far ahead.”
“He’s a talented horse and he had some finish down the lane. He just exploded.”
Is this your first time to
New Orleans? “Yes … and I’m coming back again!”
Can you talk about the feeling of winning a major
Kentucky Derby prep race? “This gives you a prospect that gives you a shot at going to the
Derby and a good shot of winning it when you have a horse that wins a top
Derby
prep like this. He’s got to be ranked among the top three-year-olds now
with this victory so it’s very inspiring. There was a lot left in the
tank, there definitely was. He didn’t seem worn out after the race. He
had a lot of energy and he was real happy.”
Steve Davidson (of Ruston, La.), majority owner and managing partner of Twin Creek Racing (Mission Impazible,
winner):
“I had a good feeling that he would run well, but this is by far the
biggest race we’ve ever won so there’s some surprise. He’s a horse
we’ve had a lot of confidence in ever since we bought him at the
yearling sale. I think his previous race at Oaklawn, the Rebel, was a
sneaky-good race. It was a really wide trip and a torrid pace; he never
really was able to get comfortable.
“I thought (at 1 1/8 miles) he would be able to settle into a rhythm today and have a better kick and that’s what happened.”
Trainer Anthony Dutrow (A Little Warm, second):
“I’m very excited. First time stretching out so he
was in uncharted waters. He answered that question very well. I’m very,
very happy with his stretch out, absolutely.
“I think the horse gave everything he possibly could. He fought hard. David kept needing him and he kept giving. I thought
the horse gave it all he had. I was very, very proud of his effort.
“Going back to Palm Meadows and I’ll hear from Mr. Evans what his intentions are from here. I don’t know what Mr. Evans will
want to do going forward. I don’t know.
“I thought that David rode the horse very well. I thought the race went very well for our horse.
He’s a Virginia-bred, right?
“Secretariat was one, too, and I hope we follow suit.”
Jockey David Cohen (A Little Warm, second):
“You know, my horse ran huge. It was his first time
going two turns. I had pressure the whole way. Obviously the horse
proved he can run with this type of company. With this underneath his
belt, you can imagine how fit he could be going a distance next time. I
look forward to riding him against these kind of horses again. I’ve
ridden the horse before and I was confident when we were running in
sprints that he could go two turns. Tony Dutrow is not going to bring a
horse he doesn’t think is prepared for this type of race. He already
proved that he could run with this type of company, finishing second to
D’ Funnybone. He showed he has the talent.
“I’m very pleased for it being his first time stretching out. Mr. Dutrow had him really ready today. I got a hot pace and
we never got a break. He belongs with this group.”
Jockey Kent Desormeaux (Drosselmeyer, third): “I had tons of trouble. I think I was
the best. Now I might not even get him into the Derby.
If I get through I win by three and we’re the favorite for the Kentucky
Derby. Instead, now I won’t even get to ride him. Tough beat.”
Trainer Todd Pletcher (Discreetly Mine, fourth):
“I thought he ran real well. I haven’ had an opportunity to talk to
Javier and the guys back at the barn yet but it looked like maybe the
track was just cupping away from him a little bit. I thought he ran a
big race and he kept trying, kept digging in down the lane.
“I thought it was a good effort, maybe not his best. Hopefully he’ll come out of it well and make a step forward off of it.”
Jockey Javier Castellano (Discreetly Mine, fourth): “Perfect
trip. We just wanted to target somebody. He ran a good race. Turning
for home, I thought the race was between me and [A Little Warm] but he
didn’t punch.”
Trainer Steve Margolis (Stay Put, fifth):
“He got shuffled. He had a little bit of trouble going into the first
turn and that didn’t help, but we’re not going to sit here and make
excuses. The horse ran a legitimate race and came running at the end.
He ran fifth and didn’t disgrace himself. Unfortunately we’ve run out
of time for the
Derby
but it shows he can just keep running on. Jamie said the horse tried
and gave his all and a little further would probably be better for him.
We’ll just go back to the drawing board and find something for him down
the road.”
Jockey Jamie Theriot (Stay Put, fifth): “I had a good trip. We got bumped around a
little bit in the first turn but I don’t think it cost us the win or anything. Other than that, I had a great trip.”
Trainer Tom Amoss (Ron the Greek, sixth):
“I thought we had pretty good position to be quite honest with you,
based on what was going on up front. I do think that the track was
pretty quick today. I was expecting a little more kick from my horse at
the end and he just didn’t get there today. I really don’t have any
excuse.”
Jockey James Graham (Ron the Greek, sixth): “Perfect trip. No horse.”
Jockey Corey Nakatani (The Program, seventh):
“We tried to sit back behind the front runners. They slowed it down but
he really wasn’t relaxing for me. I thought he was going to; he started
to go, then he stopped.”
Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan (Mister Mardi Gras, eighth): “He ran pretty good. You know,
my horse just broke his maiden and he tried all the way.”
Tim Poole, assistant to trainer Nick Zito (Fly Down, ninth):
“I’ve got to watch the replay to really dissect it. Around the turn at
about the half-mile pole he just wouldn’t kick on. I don’t know what it
was. The winner was up close, wasn’t he? That pace didn’t really
unfold. That’s what we really needed was a more hotly contested pace
and we didn’t get it. He was closing ground but the race was over with.”
Jockey Jose Lezcano (Fly Down, ninth):
“He broke a little slow. I think we had good position. He only went
about a half mile and then he started pulling in. He wasn’t comfortable
and was lugging in. At the head of the stretch, he was lugging in and
one horse came in and another went out and we had to check a little
bit. He lost a lot of lengths when that happened. It wasn’t his day.”
Jockey John Jacinto (Wow Wow Wow, 10th):
“My horse is a speed horse who wants to go. He didn’t break great so I
kind of let him sit behind the speed horses. I tried to relax him but
he wants to go early. On the turn for home, he gave me a little kick
but he wasn’t good enough to go with these horses. He might be better
going a little shorter.”
Jockey Patrick Husbands (Hotep, 11th):
“I went into the first turn second to last. By the three-quarter pole I
moved up. I had to keep smirking at him. Every time I smirked at him I
got horse; I’d leave him alone for two strides and then he’d drop back.
He’s young and a little lost. It was a good learning experience. He’ll
go back to Toronto and learn a little bit more up there.”
Jockey Robby Albarado (Island Soul, 12th)
was unavailable for comment.
Jockey Shane Sellers (Backtrack, 13th):
“My horse ran twice coming off a pair of sprints. We eased him but I
still think he’s a nice horse. He laid third and was in the race all
the way to the quarter pole. When he emptied out, he emptied out. I
wasn’t going to beat up on him. It won’t look like it on paper but I
still think he’s a nice horse.”
Race 11-The Grindstone Stakes
Three-year-olds, 7 ½ furlongs on turf, 3rd running
Trainer Mike Stidham (Workin For Hops, winner): “I am very pleased. He just keeps on
getting a little better and better.”
Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. (Workin For Hops, winner): “I was getting banged around
pretty good and decided to move a little earlier to get him in the clear. He’s a real nice horse.”
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