(Sierra Leone wins the G1 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on Saturday / All Pictures by Coady Images)
From the Keeneland Media Group / Amy Owens:
Quotations for the 100th Jogging of the $1 Million Toyota Blue Grass (G1)
Simply click right here for a replay of the race and the article-race job interview with successful connections.
Chad Brown (successful coach of Sierra Leone)
On Sierra Leone’s reluctance to enter the commencing gate
“He hesitates a touch right here and there, but seriously the outside the house submit with the wonderful, large group we have at Keeneland right now got him just a very little bit stirred up, (jockey) Tyler (Gaffalione) said. Most likely from just the exterior submit. But we’ll do plenty of gate schooling ahead of the (Kentucky) Derby, and I don’t anticipate that remaining a issue for him.”
“He’s just a organic athlete. I’m so lucky, so appreciative of the ownership group. Of system, Peter (Brant) and Brook (Smith) are here, and the (Mrs. John) Magnier spouse and children and all their fantastic companions: (Michael) Tabor, (Derrick) Smith, Westerberg (Constrained of Michael Kuessner). They couldn’t make it currently. But I’m definitely just so fortunate.”
“I imply, glance, (Sierra Leone’s) been a star given that he’s been born. The (John and Debby) Oxleys are here, who bred the horse. Tyler did these types of a good work. I have a terrific workforce. We’re just attempting to retain rather a lot the way he’s been his entire everyday living, a particular horse. I really don’t know if they at any time totally figure it out, but he’s only had a handful of commences. But there is these great chemistry with Tyler and Sierra Leone his past two starts off. You can see he wishes to lean in a very little little bit, but it’s never much too bad. He’s even now sharpening off his expertise and his competencies, and I just believe a mile-and-a-quarter won’t be a issue going ahead. We’re wanting ahead to it.”
Tyler Gaffalione (profitable rider)
On Sierra Leone’s reluctance to enter the commencing gate
“I imagine it was just the crowd. We crack correct in front of them listed here. Everybody’s lined up in opposition to the rail and he was the very last horse going in, so I believe it just sort of acquired to him – got him a minimal nervous.”
On his journey
“I beloved everything about it. He did not break the sharpest, but it truly gave me time to get over and help save some floor into the to start with switch. He took the filth just wonderful. Down the backside he received into a great rhythm. From the 5-eighths pole on, he was relocating like a winner. I was able to help you save some floor into the next change, pop him out, and he just has so considerably talent.”
“I just cannot thank the ownership team (Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg Limited of Michael Kuessner and Brook T. Smith) ample. (Trainer) Chad Brown and his workforce did a great task. I’m just so grateful to be section of this.”
“He created it way far too simple these days. I basically bought there a minimal faster than I believed I would. I basically tapped on him a minimal bit at the 5-sixteenths to gradual down, for the reason that he was truly seeking to get going. He has so considerably capability and he does issues so conveniently. We have not even acquired shut to the base of him nevertheless.”
Peter Brant (successful co-proprietor)
“I am so proud to be an operator of this horse with this wonderful group of close friends, the possession group (also which include Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg Minimal of Michael Kuessner and Brook T. Smith). This is a excellent race, a great prep for the Kentucky Derby. It is normally been a wonderful prep, but I imagine this year it’s specially solid. I think a few or 4 of the nicest horses in this crop ended up in this discipline.”
“It’s a excellent day for us, and I just want to thank the partners and (coach) Chad (Brown). He’s completed a fantastic work with this horse and been with him all the time. He referred to as me in September and mentioned, ‘This is a specific horse. I consider this is the finest 2-calendar year-outdated I have.’ He was right. It’s tough to predict that but he was ideal. I’m just delighted and very proud to be out below on this great day and win a vintage like this.”
Brook Smith (successful co-operator)
“How can any person be all set for some thing like this? To have a horse that operates like this, to have the connections, the purity of the coaching, the jockey, planning up to it, getting the time. Every race makes your heart fall. He’s a deep closer and that is a whole lot to view, but come on – staying from (Louisville) Kentucky and to be in this spot? Speechless. The very first Saturday in May possibly can get fascinating. There is a great deal of pleasant horses that are headed that path, but I imagine we’re really content with the just one we have.”
Florent Geroux (rider of runner-up Just a Touch)
“He ran wonderful, had a excellent trip. The tempo was a little bit faster than I believed it would be. Turning for residence, I thought I had it but was just taken down by Sierra Leone. My horse had a fantastic finish to be 2nd. He ran a great race and in opposition to really fantastic horses, probably the (Kentucky) Derby favorite. But we are in the Derby and he’s a genuine very good horse and I have hope for him. I really imagine he’s likely to blossom and be good.”
Brad Cox (trainer of Just a Touch)
“He’s likely to have to shift ahead in the following 4 months. Colts can do that. If he moves ahead, he will be in a position to compete in the Derby. I knew Sierra Leone would be hard to hold off. Derby is however underneath thing to consider. I’m happy of the work currently. (We’ll in all probability ship to Churchill Downs tomorrow.)”
Adam Beschizza (rider of 3rd-position finisher Epic Experience)
“I was extremely joyful with the trip. I necessarily mean we were being kind of on the wing of the area there and we could go each time we wanted to. He gave a very good account, it was wonderful to pull some (Kentucky) Derby details there. With luck, we could get the house owners to the first weekend in May.”
John Ennis (trainer of Epic Ride)
“Super, tremendous very pleased of the horse. Good trip. I feel the winner is a quite, very excellent horse. Most likely entitled to be the Derby favorite. We’re just delighted. We’ll see how he arrive out it (of the race), but I would like if we could get into the Derby because I feel he’s entitled to have a shot. Let us see what transpires. He’s a charming horse and he’s likely to be a great horse afterwards in the year.”
Luis Saez (rider of fourth-put finisher Dornoch)
“Good, perfect trip. It was not the journey we have been excepting we didn’t get there. We experienced a clear vacation.”
Danny Gargan (coach of Dornoch)
“He went genuinely well. He obtained in there at the rear of. It is his first time really obtaining a lot of dirt like that, he resented it a tiny bit early, (jockey) Luis (Saez) reported. He explained he sort of ran absent from the horses. (He was) a very little little bit stuck in there. Upcoming time, we’ll split him out of (the starting gate on the lead) and hold his encounter thoroughly clean, and he’ll operate better future time.
“There’s no stress now. We’re likely to go more than there (to Churchill) and have enjoyable. We’re likely to have two horses (Dornoch and Society Person, next in today’s Wooden Memorial-G2 Introduced by Resorts Entire world On line casino) in the race and attempt and take pleasure in ourselves, and ideally get lucky and get that day.”
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