Saturday, October 10, 2009
$400,000 First Lady (G1)
Rajiv Maragh (rider of winner Diamondrella [GB]
“I wasn’t really that worried about the horses in front of me because my main competition was right next to me and behind me. I was paying more attention to them and trying to time my move perfectly, trying to wait for the right time, and it just worked out really well. She gave me a big turn of foot like she always does—very consistent. I know what I’ve got with her because she always gives it to me.”
On whether he was watching Forever Together
“Absolutely. I gotta keep track of her because she’s a very talented filly, the champion last year. A lot of credit to my filly. She does the work for me. She’s beaten Forever Together twice now so that’s impressive.”
Michael Iavarone (co-owner with Richard J. Schiavo of IEAH Stables, owner of Diamondrella)
“We bought her two weeks ago. We knew she liked the track (turf course) here; the question was two turns. It worked out really well. We’re really happy.”
On who selected Diamondrella
“It was a combination of me and (bloodstock agent) Nick Sallusto. Nick really deserves a lot of credit for the work he’s done for us. He continues to bring us good horses. We continue to buy them, and they continue to run for us. We’re really excited.”
Michael Stidham (trainer of second-place finisher Tizaqueena)
“She ran great. I really thought we were going to win, but didn’t quite get it done.”
On whether Tizqueena would race in the Breeders’ Cup:
“I don’t think so. The mile and a quarter is just a little too far. I don’t really know what will be next her.”
Jamie Theriot (rider of Tizaqueena)
“My filly put in a big, game effort; we just got outrun in the final strides. I don’t know if they will take her to the Breeders’ Cup, but she is definitely that kind of filly and she tries every single time and today she ran big.”
Julien Leparoux (rider of third-place finisher, last year’s winner & beaten favorite Forever Together)
“I had a bad trip and the turf wasn’t that great. She ran a big race even though the ground wasn’t the best for her. She’s still going to be a good horse for sure.”
Jonathan Sheppard (trainer of Forever Together)
“I thought she ran a tremendous race. She got kind of boxed in a little bit at the back of the pack and had to drop back a little bit too far to get out just going the flat mile. She just couldn’t quite get there, but I thought she ran great. I’m proud of her, I thought she ran well.
On whether the distance was too short:
“I think that at this stage, it is. But she made up a lot of ground.”
On going to the Breeders’ Cup
“Yes, we’re still planning to go – definitely yes.”
Shaun Bridgmohan (rider of fourth-place finisher Cure for Sale [ARG])
“She ran real nice and fought the whole way. She gave me everything she had. We had a perfect trip. She was sitting second behind the horse that was loose on the lead and she never quit trying.”