Belmont Stakes Draw Quotes

Dale Romans, trainer of First Dude (No. 11, 7-2): “When Ramon [Dominguez] jumped off him after the Florida Derby with all the trouble he was in, he said, ‘the Belmont will be this horse’s race because he wants to go a mile and a half and he’ll love that track.’ We sent him up here, it’s been two weeks, and he seems to have gotten over it really well.”

“You’re not going to skip a classic with a horse like this. We were waiting to go a mile and a half. He’s a throwback kind of horse, a big rugged kind of horse, nothing bothers him, and I don’t think three weeks [between races] is going to bother him.”

“We think with extra distance and a little more experience; we can turn the tables on Ice Box.”

Ernie Reichard, racing manager for Robert V. LaPenta, owner of Ice Box (No. 6, 3-1): “[In the Kentucky Derby] it was stop and start, start and stop and once he got going on the outside he just made up ground. We gave him time off after the Derby, there was no need to rush him, and we had another nice horse in the barn in Jackson Bend [for the Preakness].”

Stacy Pryor, assistant to trainer Nick Zito, trainer of Fly Down (No. 5, 9-2): “Both horses are training exceptionally, and Nick is very happy. They’re both very nice to be around, pleasant around the barn, and very forward horses.”

Alexis Barba, trainer of Make Music for Me (No. 4, 10-1): “Our barometer has been [2-year-old champion and Preakness winner] Lookin At Lucky. We were overlooked because he did not win but he definitely made his presence felt. I think [in the Belmont] we’ll probably been in the middle somewhere.”

Mike Maker, trainer of Stately Victor (No. 9, 15-1): “He made a nice little run on the turn in the Kentucky Derby and came up behind a wall of horses. He’s a big old dude, and it takes a while to get his momentum back. [Jockey] Alan [Garcia] has the experience, and we’ve had a lot of luck together, so we’re happy to have him.”

Bob Hutt, managing partner of Fantasy Lane’s Uptowncharlybrown (No. 3, 10-1), on how he handles the 59-strong partnership: “Very delicately. Many people say I should be approved for sainthood, but really, it’s a labor of love. We have wonderful, wonderful partners.”

Steve Margolis, trainer of Stay Put (No. 10, 20-1): “He’s slowly been improving each race, and his race on Derby Day was a positive. We felt it was worth taking a shot; he’s a big-striding colt, and we’re excited about being here.”