![]() So, you know, Irad just had to kind of figure that out as the race unfolded. So it's really sort of difficult to say, okay, this is the way the race should unfold, this is the way we want to be. This race had such a hodge-podge of horses and maidens and six furlong horses that have never been long. I thought that was okay.īut we had talked about it, and we felt like usually in a race like this you're able to really kind of envision the way the race is going to unfold because you're familiar with all the horses' form and their running styles. I felt a little better after they posted the half mile time. TODD PLETCHER: Yeah, I thought we were a little further back than we anticipated. ![]() THE MODERATOR: Did you think they were going quick early? Were you okay with where he was? Maybe a little farther back than at least anticipated? He just performed so well, and he just go by him and keep going. Let him get his stride, and now I hit a couple more times, and he give into me. I hit him once, and then I take my time with him because I feel like if I hit him again, he is going to get there. THE MODERATOR: What about the determination to run down a good horse that had opened up on you, and it looked like he was screaming for extra ground today. When he feel that horse, he jump on the bit, I say, all right, now he give me a great feeling like I have some horse. Like you said, it's a long stretch, a mile and an eighth. Now I'm going to the quarter pole and try to wait as long as I can and ride with confidence. Then I just keep asking keep coming, keep coming and keep coming. When I go in and drop in, I was way back. So I have to take a hole and drop in, let Javier go with their horse. He have a clean break, but, still, going into the first turn was too wide, so I say there's no way I'm going to make that turn that wide. IRAD ORTIZ: To be honest, the pole position going into the first was the only thing to worry about it today. Talk about the trip, but then digging in to run him down. ![]() THE MODERATOR: Mage certainly got the jump on you on the far turn. So if your horse raced fair like myself, Mike, Todd and Irad in the room, you witnessed a magnificent performance, a definitive performance. But he manufactured four to six lines out of the horse, and the gallop out was just demonstrative. MIKE REPOLE: I thought you were talking about Forte, but it's okay (laughing). I thought when Mage jumped him I thought, all right, but we had the best athlete in the sport of thoroughbred horseracing in Irad Ortiz Jr. A really interesting - a really interesting field because there were a lot of type of horses there. VINNIE VIOLA: I said to Mike after the race that the horse is not supposed to win that race, all things given. Vinnie, your thoughts on the race as a whole? He went 0 for 7 and me 4 for 4, but that's okay. So you guys do the math when you get a chance (laughing). If I would have went 3 for 4, that would have been the worst 3 for 4 of my life. I, too, at the eighth pole was saying, we're going to get second or third, and he just kept going and going and going. I thought he got an incredible education. I didn't mind him having the 11 post because I think I run 20 in the derby. MIKE REPOLE: I knew it was going to be a big test for him. THE MODERATOR: Mike Repole, your thoughts during the race? And picking up on what Todd said, entering the far turn really had to earn it today. Then if you would have told me at that point that he was going to win by a length with his ears pricked, I would have said, no, couldn't do that. I mean, he came by me at the eighth pole, and he looked beaten. Had to fan out pretty wide down the lane, but to me what was the most impressive part was the last 100 yards. And, you know, thankfully the horse just kept responding. The main thing we wanted to focus on, we talked to Irad before the race, is just stick to your game plan, keep riding him like you've been riding him. ![]() We know statistically a really big disadvantage going a mile and an eighth here at Gulfstream. I was worried when the draw came out getting post 11. TODD PLETCHER: I thought in the end was spectacular. Coming out what did you think of the performance. We'll just start with Todd, I guess, and go down the row before we open it up. THE MODERATOR: Congratulations on a job well done. ![]()
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