$750,000 Toyota Blue Grass (G1) Post Race Quotes

 

Thomas McCarthy (winning owner and trainer of General Quarters):

 

“He trained like a champion all week, and after that breeze last week (a bullet work, 5 furlongs in :58.20) I knew I had him right where I wanted him. I think he exhibited the tenacity to go on to the (Kentucky) Derby.”

 

On whether McCarthy, a former high school principal, ever thought he would one day train the winner of the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes and have a contender for the Kentucky Derby

 

“I was hoping, I was hoping.”

 

Eibar Coa (rider of General Quarters):

 

“He was very professional. I saw his race, the prep for the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) (the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis on February 14), and I loved the way he ran. I also saw the Tampa Bay Derby (G3), where he got in a lot of traffic. Mr. McCarthy told me just to run his race (and said), “Without traffic, I know he is going to show up today.’

 

“He (General Quarters) was pretty good. He broke sharp. He placed himself in a very good position. In the straight, when I asked him, he gave me what he had. He showed up today, and he’s definitely going to be one of the horses to beat in the Derby.”

 

On whether General Quarters will get the 1 ¼ miles of the Kentucky Derby

“Definitely. He was very professional today. He allowed me to settle behind horses and wait for me until I asked him.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elliott Walden (vice president and racing manager for WinStar Farm, owner of beaten favorite and runner-up Hold Me Back):

 

“He ran well, very well. A little wide on both turns, but they went slow up front and he finished strong.”

 

On whether Hold Me Back will run next in the Kentucky Derby

“I don’t see why not. We’re very pleased with the effort but we’ll let the horse tell us.”

 

Bill Mott (trainer of Hold Me Back):

“If you look at the upside it's a good thing he gave an honest and hard race. Have a little more pace down the road: That can't hurt him. The camp is anxious to go to Churchill.”

 

Kent Desormeaux (rider of Hold Me Back):

 

“He handled the crowd and the parade, all the horses around him—he did all of that really well.  I think he’s been fine-tuned today, and the next one is the one we shoot for.  I would have liked to have won today, of course, but it was a very encouraging effort.”

 

 

 

Ron McAnally (trainer of third-place finisher Massone):

 

“We were worried about the slow pace, but Garrett (Gomez) rode him perfectly. He is not nominated to the Triple Crown, so he will go back to California.”

 

Garrett Gomez (rider of Massone):

 

 “He ran his eyeballs out. He really tried. He gave 130 percent today. From post 11, I thought they were going to move along pretty good and then back up. They left away from there and I got situated when they backed the pace up. I was able to save a lot of ground and the rail was wide open. I just snuck up the fence and made up five lengths before the first turn. He ran really good.”

 

 

 

Julien Leparoux (rider of fourth-place finisher Terrain):

 

“He ran a good race. We finished up good. The pace wasn’t really fast and the track wasn’t an issue. But he ran a good race.”

 

 

Todd Pletcher (trainer of fifth-place finisher Join in the Dance):

 

“I thought our horse ran really well. He dug in and tried hard. Sometimes this track is not really kind to speed. We slowed it down the best we could. Maybe on a different day at Keeneland, speed would carry him a bit. I thought he ran a courageous race. I think he is the kind of horse you can spot around during the summer – off the main path a little bit. He's a very consistent, hard-knocking horse.”

John Velazquez (rider of Join in the Dance):

 

“He ran well. He was keyed up in the paddock a little bit and in the gate. Then he wouldn’t settle down in the early part of the race. I thought if he got to the lead, he would settle, but he never did. He just didn’t run that well for me down the stretch.”

 

 

Jamie Theriot (rider of sixth-place finisher Loch Dubh):

 

“I had a great trip. Coming out of the turn, I was following the winner. At the quarter pole, I thought I had a big chance. He just got outrun in the lane.”

 

Kiaran McLaughlin (trainer of seventh-place Charitable Man):

“I thought he would be closer. Not sure; we'll see about it (the Kentucky Derby). We'll assess.”

Alan Garcia (rider of Charitable Man):

 

“He felt good underneath me early but when I called on him for run, he didn’t respond.”

 

 

 

John Gosden (trainer of Mafaaz [GB], who finished eighth):

 

“He always seemed to be in good position. There just wasn’t any pace. We’re going to have to regroup and see where we’re at. ”

 

Rick Nichols (vice president of Shadwell Stable, owner of Mafaaz):

 

On whether Mafaaz will continue to the Kentucky Derby

“That’s a decision for Mr. Gosden and Sheikh Hamdan. At this point, I don’t really know.”

 

Ken McPeek (trainer of ninth-place finisher Theregoesjojo):

 

“The second jump away from there, Calvin (Borel) said something locked up, like he twisted something and he said he did it in the second turn, too, like he pulled something in behind.  I don’t know. I am off to watch the replay.”

 

Calvin Borel (rider of Theregoesjojo):

 

“I thought he would come home a little better than he did, and he didn’t finish like I thought he should. I had a great trip, running along right where I wanted to be. It just wasn’t my day.”

 

 

 

Robby Albarado (rider of tenth-place finisher Patena):

 

“I had a good trip, just not enough horse.  He was comfortable and content on the backside and made a little move at the three-eighths pole, but he just faded.”

 

 

 

Jesus Castanon (rider of last-place Cliffy’s Future):

 

“The style of his race is he tries to make one run, but every time he was getting close, they went on without him.”

 

Darrin Miller (trainer of Cliffy’s Future):

 

“He’s walking the barn and seems to be fine.  I knew we were in trouble when we had those times and a few closers in the race—we were not in a good spot.  We were just chasing them.”