Following is a collection of quotes from riders and trainers of each of the 17 non-winning entries in Saturday's Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, won by Mage.
Jareth Loveberry, Jockey, Two Phil's, Second: “In the turn, the hole opened up and I said I can't wait. He proved he is a world-class horse today.”
Larry Rivelli, Trainer, Two Phil's, Second: “Man, he tried so hard and ran his heart out. I'm so proud of this horse and everyone involved. He ran an incredible race.”
Flavien Prat, Jockey, Angel of Empire, Third: “He ran great. I had a good trip. I was able to get myself behind the winner turning for home and we definitely had a great chance to win.”
Brad Cox, Trainer, Angel of Empire, Third, Hit Show, Fifth, Jace's Road, 17th, Verifying, 16th: “Angel of Empire ran well. It was a hot pace. Down the backside he had a few beat. I don't know where the winner was laying. We had a little bit of excitement down the lane. I thought he (Angel of Empire) had a shot. Hit Show had a beautiful trip from the one hole. We were close, but we come here to win it, so I'm a little disappointed. Overall, very happy with the horses' performances. Off to Preakness with somebody. We have First Mission. This is demanding. I don't know if I'll run any of these horses back in two weeks.”
Joel Rosario, Jockey, Disarm, Fourth: “It was a big step for him. He responded to everything I asked him to do. It was a good race for him.”
Steve Asmussen, Trainer, Disarm, Fourth: “He faced some of the best 3-year-olds in the country. Obviously, I was hoping for a better finish today. I loved that he continued on, through it all. He was fourth today, and he's a solid horse. The race could have been smoother for everybody. You put 18 in there, there was a lot of contact and stuff like that. He took a whole lot of dirt on the backside. You could tell it was a little confusing to him for a ways down the backside, but he stayed on well. It looked like when he got a seam there, about the eighth pole, he could do it. Then he still finished up OK.”
Manny Franco, Jockey, Hit Show, Fifth: “I had a dream trip. My horse ran really well he just got beat by better horses.”
Christophe Lemaire, Jockey, Derma Sotogake (JPN), Sixth: “He didn't break as fast as last time but I was able to put him on the inside and save ground. Gradually, we gained position on the final turn. I was in the best spot to make a move, he stayed on and but didn't have the speed to make it closer late.”
Luis Saez, Jockey, Tapit Trice, Seventh: “He made a nice move but it was already done.”
Todd Pletcher, Trainer, Tapit Trice, Seventh, Kingsbarns, 14th: “Tapit Trice did what he always does – he broke slow and then he had to check a couple of times heading into the first turn. When it came time he couldn't get going well enough; farther for him. We're thinking Belmont. Kingsbarns ran as far as he could and as hard as he could, but the half mile (:45.73) was a little too fast for him and he just couldn't keep up.”
Gerardo Corrales, Jockey, Raise Cain, Eighth: “My horse ran Ok. No problems.”
Ben Colebrook, Trainer, Raise Cain, Eighth: “He was in a pretty good spot early but just didn't have the late kick he needed.”
Junior Alvarado, Jockey, Rocket Can, Ninth: “My horse ran good today. I think I had one of the best trips in the race. He saved ground on the first turn and laying fourth or fifth. On the turn for home, I moved into third and he got a little tired.”
Bill Mott, Trainer, Rocket Can, Ninth: “We finished in the middle of the pack. He still put in a good effort today.”
James Graham, Jockey, Confidence Game, 10th: “He quickened, he just didn't go on again like he needed to. I liked our trip, four lengths back and he had his ears pricked.”
Brian Hernandez Jr., Jockey, Sun Thunder, 11th: “He split the pack. He had a pretty good trip around there, followed the winner but he just wasn't good enough today.”
Kenny McPeek, Trainer, Sun Thunder, 11th: “I think we'll point to the Belmont after this. He was a little up against it today but we'll come back to fight another day.”
John Velazquez, Jockey, Reincarnate, 13th: “I was where I thought I'd be: in the first three. When we got to the quarter pole he didn't have anything.”
Tim Yakteen, Trainer, Reincarnate, 13th: “It wasn't our day. The most important thing is the horse came out of it OK.”
Jose Ortiz, Jockey, Kingsbarns, 14th: “I sacrificed going a little bit faster than I wanted to in order to be in a good spot. I wish we could have given him a breather on the backside.”
Rafael Bejarano, Jockey, King Russell, 15th: “My horse ran good but we have no excuse. I was in a good position, in the middle of the pack, he made a nice move from the five-eighths pole to the three-eighths pole and then after that, he started to get tired and give up. I was happy but this race is very tough.”
Ron Moquett, Trainer, King Russell, 15th: “He made us proud. We didn't get the result we wanted, but I knew we were up against it when I saw how wide he was in both turns. He came back very well. He's happy. We'll get them down the road.”
Tyler Gaffalione, Jockey, Verifying, 16th: “We might have just gone a little too quick. Got to take a shot.”
Florent Geroux, Jockey, Jace's Road, 17th: “He broke sharp and I tried to hustle him but he could not keep up with the three horses in front. He was not trying. Before I knew everyone started passing him.”
Irad Ortiz Jr., Jockey, Cyclone Mischief, 18th: “He missed the break and after that, he never got involved.”
Dale Romans, Trainer, Cyclone Mischief, 18th: “It wasn't our day today. He broke poorly and that was it.”
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Bo Cruz (Creative Cause), away since a 12 1/4-length maiden romp on the stretch out at Fair Grounds Mar. 4, stamped himself as one to watch on the sophomore scene going forward–and a 'TDN Rising Star'–as he easily handled a strong-looking group of runners in the race following the GI Kentucky Derby.
The grey was second on debut sprinting in NOLA Feb. 5, but put it all together next out, earning a 91 Beyer Speed Figure for his graduation score. With clocker and agent Bruno DeJulio listed as sole owner for the colt's prior starts, Bo Cruz resurfaced here with Skyscraper Racing, Brian Pagano and Patrick Grippo added to the owner line.
Off at 7-2 as big-figure Keeneland debut winner Equivoque (Good Magic) took the most tote attention, Bo Cruz immediately seized command and cleared off by several lengths, posting splits of :24.11 and :47.96. Equivoque ranged up outside of another pursuer to try and make a race of it heading for home, but Bo Cruz had other ideas, slamming the door shut in midstretch and quickly widening his advantage to score by an auspicious three lengths in 1:43.07. Classic Legacy (Into Mischief), the half-brother to Art Collector (Bernardini) who was third last time in the GIII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, completed the trifecta.
The winner's dam is a half-sister to 2017 GI Preakness S. winner Cloud Computing (Maclean's Music). His third dam is GISW Halo America (Waquoit). Quick Breeze fetched just $7,500 while in foal to Great Notion at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale. She died after producing a colt that May.
13th-Churchill Downs, $116,585, Alw (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($100,000), 5-6, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:43.07, ft, 3 lengths.
BO CRUZ, c, 3, Creative Cause
1st Dam: Quick Breeze, by Ghostzapper
2nd Dam: Quick Temper, by A.P. Indy
3rd Dam: Halo America, by Waquoit
Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $112,960. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Skyscraper Racing, LLC, Racingwithbruno, Pagano, Brian and Grippo, Patrick; B-Douglas Scharbauer (KY); T-Albert M. Stall, Jr. *$45,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP.
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Heavily favored Skelly became the first four-time winner at the 2022-2023 Oaklawn meeting, cruising to a three-length victory in Saturday's inaugural $150,000 Lake Hamilton Stakes for older horses at 6 furlongs.
Under eight-time Oaklawn riding champion Ricardo Santana Jr., Skelly ($2.80) took command at the start and wasn't seriously challenged in winning his fourth consecutive race, all in front-running fashion. Skelly was being wheeled back in three weeks by Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen after capturing the $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) for older horses April 15.
“He's a nice horse,” Santana said. “I've got to give a lot of credit to the exercise rider (Adolfo Garcia). That horse isn't easy, man. As soon as he figured that horse out, how to gallop, this horse has improved more and more. He did it easy today. He only had (three) weeks off and I knew he was going to be a little bit tired. I'm really happy with how the horse has developed.”
Sir Wellington finished second, 1 ¾ lengths ahead of Edge to Edge, who was followed, in order, by Tut's Revenge, Walker's Win, Joe Frazier and Morello.
Carrying equal top weight of 122 pounds, Skelly covered six furlongs over a fast track in 1:09. Skelly paid $2.80 for the win.
A 4-year-old gelded son Practical Joke out of the Bwana Charlie mare Adande, Skelly was bred in Kentucky by H. Allen Poindexter. He raised his career earnings to $642,513 following his fifth victory from nine starts. Skelly was purchased for $250,000 at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky select yearlings showcase by Red Lane Thoroughbreds (Chris Hicks). Wynnstay Sales consigned.
In addition to the Count Fleet and Lake Hamilton, Skelly won a first-level allowance Feb. 25 and a second-level allowance March 17. All four of Skelly's victories were at six furlongs.
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