Following is a collection of quotes from riders and trainers of non-winning entries in Saturday's Belmont Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park, won by Arcangelo.
Todd Pletcher, trainer of runner-up Forte (No. 6) and third-place Tapit Trice (No. 2): “A mile and a half wasn't far enough [laughs]. I'm super proud of both horses. I knew we were asking a lot coming off the 10-week layoff [with Forte]. He got shuffled back a little bit and once he got him outside in the clear, he was still making impact at the end but he just ran out of time getting there.
“Tapit Trice got the trip we wanted. He got out in the clear and made that move and then he kept steadily grinding away. I was super happy with both efforts.”
Irad Ortiz, Jr., jockey of runner-up Forte (No. 6): “I had a good trip. I was able to get close and I kept the position for a while going into the backside. I gave him a little break and he came back and kept coming back. He ran great.
“I [lost a little position around the far turn] and then I had to go around. I felt like he wasn't going forward where I was, so I had to try something else. I was in the clear and he started going forward, and I said 'Alright, let's stay here.'
“I just had to go a little wider, I think the winner [Arcangelo] cut the corner. He was best today.”
Luis Saez, jockey of third-place Tapit Trice (No. 2): “Perfect trip. Broke from there and we were following the speed. Right at the three-eighths, I started making a little move. He kind of took a little while to get going, but I feel like he was coming. He tried. The winner, when he got there, Javier, he was gone. But Tapit Trice, he tried.”
Manny Franco, jockey of fourth-place Hit Show (No. 7): “I got a good trip. I just don't think we were good enough today.
“Hit Show did awesome. He broke good, it put me in a great position going into the turn. From there until the wire, he gave me his all.”
Flavien Prat, jockey of fourth-place Angel of Empire (No. 8): “I wish I could have waited a bit more, but a horse made a move on the outside and we had to go from there. But basically, no excuse.”
Bob Baffert, trainer of sixth-place National Treasure (No. 4): “It [the winner, Arcangelo] was an Arrogate. What did they say about Arrogate when he won [the Travers]? Arrogate steals the show. I'm so happy for her [Jena]. Johnny [Velazquez] said he could never turn him off today. He was really tense. He never got a chance to relax. He never shut it down. But he ran hard. He gave us a little bit of a thrill turning for home, but he was just wasn't… he didn't relax. He couldn't relax. He couldn't get him to turn off. He was on the bit the whole way.”
John Velazquez, jockey of sixth-place National Treasure (No. 4): “My trip was really good, he just didn't have anything going down the lane.”
Marcos Meneses, jockey of seventh-place Il Miracolo (No. 5): “The horse didn't break well and was uncomfortable the whole way. I couldn't put him in a good position.”
Joel Rosario, jockey of eighth-place Red Route One (No. 9): “It was a pretty good trip. He handled everything well, but it looked like maybe he was just a little tired today with the distance.”
Jose Ortiz, jockey of ninth-place Tapit Shoes (No. 1): “I was sitting right off National Treasure every step of the way, but honestly by the five-eighths pole I was running out of horse.”
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