Explanations And Excuses: Losing Connections From Breeders’ Cup Saturday Look Back On Their Races

Following is a selection of quotes from connections in the Breeders' Cup Classic, won by Flightline:

Second-place trainer Bill Mott (Olympiad): “How could you be more pleased? We're here on the wrong year. His race would have won some other Classics.”

Second-place jockey Junior Alvarado (Olympiad): “I had a great experience even if I didn't win. I'm a little guy and I had such a break to have a horse like Olympiad, but then what a break to have a horse like flightline in the race! That was a race like you might see in 60 or 70 years, once in a lifetime period I am happy that I will forever be known as the guy who finished second to Flightline in the Breeders' Cup Classic. I was excited that one horse was coming on at the end come up but I knew I had no shot to win. I hope they keep him running next year. that is my big hope. I am so happy even though I didn't win.”

Third-place Trainer Bob Baffert (Taiba):“He slipped leaving the gate and lost a little bit, but he ran a tremendous race. He has so much heart. He's running against two outstanding 4-year-olds. I would have loved to run second. I knew Flightline; he just reminds me of American Pharoah. He  ran a gallant race. I'm proud of him. He's tough. You watch him work in the morning you'd never think he's that good, But when he gets in the gate he's a different horse.

On Flightline: “He's a beast. I've been watching him. John Sadler has done a tremendous job with him. He deserves that win the way he handled him. Just a tremendous racehorse. Horses like him,, Pharoah, Justify, Arrogate, they don't come along very often. I've watched him train. I'm sure that John was under a lot of pressure. I'm sure he was like me when he turned for home he probably thought 'I should have gone to more parties this week and enjoyed myself.' You're under the gun.”

Third-place Jockey Mike Smith (Taiba): “Honestly, he ran huge. I was in really tight and he slipped a little leaving the gate. But after that, he really ran huge.”

Fifth-place Trainer Todd Pletcher (Life Is Good): “Life Is Good was moving really well, but was going really fast early. He was traveling well until the last furlong and just couldn't see it out.”

“Happy Saver never really got on track. He didn't like the kickback and never seemed in a good rhythm.”

Fifth-place Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. (Life Is Good): “I tried to stay up at least two lengths, but I never could. He (Flightline) was on top of me every step of the way. He's a really nice horse.”

Sixth-place Trainer Doug O'Neill (Hot Rod Charlie): “What can you say? Just a freakish performance from Flightline. Charlie, we are just grateful he came back in good shape and we will regroup. Hopefully they keep him in training.”

Sixth-place Jockey Tyler Gaffalione (Hot Rod Charlie): “That was unbelievable for two horses to be running like that. We were all back there together watching that up front. I've never seen anything like that. My horse went great but it just wasn't our day.”

Seventh-place Jockey John Velazquez (Happy Saver): “I mean all you can say is 'wow'. That horse (Flightline) is definitely a freak of nature. To go like he did today having a fast pace and being able to keep running, it's one of those few things we see in racing that really impress us. It's kind of sad that he might be done racing now. It's hard to see him go away because this is what makes racing exciting.”

Following is a selection of quotes from the Breeders' Cup Turf, won by Rebel's Romance:

Second-place trainer Aiden O'Brien (Stone Age): “He probably liked the trip more than before and I think there's more to come from him still. I absolutely hope to bring him back next year. He's just a 3-year-old and he's still progressing.”On Broome: “He was a little bit slow away and got back a bit and maybe the pace was a little slow for him, but he ran well.”

Third-place trainer Bill Mott (War Like Goddess): “She ran good. He (jockey Joel Rosario) had to wait a while to produce her. He was in the stretch before he got to let her run. If he could have let her run maybe a little bit around the turn it might have been helpful, but she ran well. Take nothing away from her. I would have liked to see her start her run just a tick earlier. She saved a lot of ground but she had to wait a little bit. When you are on the inside, that's what happens. You get lucky to save a little ground, but it doesn't always one exactly when you want it to.”

Third-place jockey Joel Rosario (War Like Goddess): “She did really well. When I got to the last turn I had to wait a little bit to kick home. She finished very well and ran great.”

Fourth-place trainer John Gosden (Misriff): “He's been an extraordinary horse. Throughout the lockdown years, he was winning French Derbies and Saudi Cups and then he's won the Juddmonte International. His best distance is a mile and a quarter – that (12 furlongs) stretched him today – particularly going three- or four-wide. I tried to sharpen him with the blinkers, but it didn't make any difference. Still, he's a lovely horse and done nothing, but be consistent in his career. He was unlucky in the Eclipse this year and that's really the race that got away from him. We are delighted with him. He was making a hell of a run and it was just the last bit there was a little beyond him stamina-wise. He ran a fabulous race and we are really proud to have a horse like that.”

Following is a selection of quotes from the Breeders' Cup Distaff, won by Malathaat:

Second-place trainer Marcelo Polanco (Blue Stripe): “She ran absolutely great. You get to this point, 25-1 amazing.

Did you expect that type of performance from her?: “Absolutely. She's was training super.”

Third and seventh place trainer Steve Asmussen (Clairiere and Society):“She ran a fabulous race. It was just inches… inches…”

(On a 2023 campaign): “of course we will have to speak with Barbara (Banke) and such, but there's no physical reason we wouldn't continue. She's a special filly.”

Third-place jockey Joel Rosario (Clairiere): “She ran a big race. I thought we were going to get there, but like I said, those races are tough. She ran really well so we're happy with the race.”

Fourth-place jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. (Nest, favorite): “I didn't break well and had to use her too much to get position. When I kicked in, we did well but they just ran me down.”

Fifth-place trainer D. Wayne Lukas (Secret Oath): “We had a perfect trip. We might have moved a little early. We were sitting there but he saw Nest move and he saw that other horse move, so he probably had to make a move. I thought she ran a terrific race. She did everything I thought and we  just got beat. That was a hell of a field. I don't feel like we have to apologize for it.”

Following is a selection of quotes from the Breeders' Cup Mile, won by Modern Games: 

Second-place jockey Luis Saez (Shirl's Speight): “He tried pretty hard, but there were so many horses. I wasn't in the clear when I wanted to be. Was having a good trip, and saved ground, but when I got to the top of the stretch I couldn't get in the clear.”

Third-place trainer Ralph Beckett (Kinross): “Huge run. To get on the fence from 13 and then come from there and then go inside and then out… marvelous run. I'm hugely proud of the horse. The fact that he performed as he did at six (furlongs) and seven (furlongs) and now a mile – they don't come along very often. He galloped out past the winner, maybe he could have (won), but that's all 'ifs and maybes'.”

Fourth-place trainer Paulo Lobo (Ivar):“I think he ran a very good race. I think among the three Breeders' Cup he has run, this one is the strongest one and I am glad.”

Fourth-place jockey Javier Castellano (Ivar): “I really like the way he did it. He was in a beautiful spot behind the other horses. He was surrounded by horses and it covered us from the wind. He traveled beautifully every step of the way. I like the way he finished. All the horses spread and horses were getting tired so I went through my hole that I was looking for and he responded. He tried really hard, but unfortunately the European horses are really good quality. He just got beat by a length. We're really happy with it.”

Trainer Aiden O'Brien (Order of Australia, the 2020 Mile winner): “He ran very well and really come home very well.”

Following is a selection of quotes from the Breeders' Cup Sprint, won by Elite Power: 

Second-place trainer Peter Miller (C Z Rocket):“I'm pretty happy. Other than winning, I couldn't be happier for this guy, at 8 years old, to run like this. It took a really big effort from the winner to beat us, I couldn't be more proud of the team, and of the horse, and Flavien (Prat) gave him a great ride. I thought for a second that we were going to win it, just for a second, then I saw the 6 (Elite Power) was coming. I knew we were getting by the ones in front of us, but the 6 (Elite Power) ran super and ran us down.” 

Second-place jockey Flavien Prat (C Z Rocket): “I got him into a good position. I was actually surprised to be that close. I had a little hope for a while, but we're really proud of his effort.” 

Third-place trainer Steve Asmussen (Jackie's Warrior, favorite):“It's just amazing that a horse as great as he is has never won a Breeders' Cup race. He's a very special horse – physically, mentally and his ability. It's a disappointment. I was happy with where he was at (during the race). If I could do it over again, obviously, I wouldn't have hung out where he did. I don't like the outcome, but hail to the victor.”

Third-place jockey Joel Rosario (Jackie's Warrior, favorite): “He did everything I asked him to do. That horse (Super Ocho) went to the lead and I sat right off of him. He ran his race.”  

Trainer Wayne Catalano (fourth with Manny Wah and 11^th with defending winner Aloha West): “Manny Wah ran such a great race. He always tries hard and he ran like I thought he would. He's a great horse to have in the barn and it was nice to see that kind of run from him.

“You know, Aloha West is a really good horse and he just really needed a prep, I think.”

Following is a selection of quotes from the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf, won by Tuesday: 

Second-place Trainer Chad Brown (In Italian): “She ran great, but was going way too fast. I'm really disappointed with the fractions, but what am I going to do. 1:10 for three-quarters is just punishing there. She ran her heart out and I'm really proud of her effort. The winner ran quite well. It was a good horse race – I just wish we could have hit that three-quarter marker in something other than 1:10.

(On Rougir and Virginia Joy) – I'll have to watch the replay, but it was pretty clear turning for home that our only chance was In Italian.”

Second-place Jockey Joel Rosario (In Italian): “It was good ride. She did what she wants to do every time, just go forward. She did everything right it's just too bad we got beat by that horse. The winner ran a record time to beat us. It was a good performance for my horse. You always want to win, but sometimes it's just tough.”

Third-place Jockey Luis Saez (Lady Speightspeare): “I'm pretty happy with the way she ran. She was trying; she never gave up. All the perfect trip, got out the right way. I would have loved to have been on the lead but I knew what the pace was. She got tired, but she never gave up. She never stopped trying.”

Fourth-place trainer John Gosden (Nashwa, favorite):“Obviously we were a little slow way from the gate, and lost the benefit of our post position. We got a little bit too far back on what is a fast track with a tailwind. Then pinned down on the inside, couldn't get out.  Finally got out and the race was over but she was running on very well there. It would be sharp enough for her, this distance. She's a grand filly and we'll be looking at next year with her.

“She broke well and they got tight down inside. She managed to switch outside and got going, but the race had slightly got away from us by then – just got away from us. That's all. She ran a nice race and she's come from a long way back to be fourth. It just all happened a little bit quick for her, that's all, on this ground. She's run a nice race. An extra sixteenth would help her. You just can't get that far back around here.”

Following is a selection of quotes from the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, won by Cody's Wish: 

Second-place Trainer Brad Cox (Cyberknife):“He ran good, just second best. He ran great. No excuse. Florent (Geroux) gave him a perfect trip, just came up a little bit short, bottom line.” 

Second-place Jockey Florent Geroux (Cyberknife): “The trouble was on the first turn, had nothing to do with us. I had a great trip, the pace was just as I thought it would be. I was making my move nicely and I thought I had it. He was reaching out just at the finish and trying really hard. The other horse was fighting hard and my horse fought just as hard. I loved being in the two path. I really thought we had it.”

Third-place Trainer Doug O'Neill (Slow Down Andy): “He ran huge. Mario did a great job and got after him and got position. He was sitting in a perfect spot and didn't have the cleanest trip – a little traffic – but he ran a really big race.” 

Third-place Jockey Mario Gutierrez (Slow Down Andy): “The number 3 (Pipeline) pinned me down a little bit early in the race and I think it cost me a bit. The winner and the second-place horse ran really tough, so I think I was third best today. He ran really good.”

Following is a selection of quotes from the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, won by Caravel: 

Second-place assistant trainer Adam Ryan, son of trainer Kevin Ryan (Emaraaty Anna): “All credit to our traveling lad, Umar (Mohammed), who has been with him all week and has him perfect. We thought we were going to get there and it was a great race. I know he was a big price, but we couldn't have the horse in better condition. We had the right man on board in Ryan (Moore). Fair play to the winner. (Caravel) is obviously a very brave filly.”

Third-place trainer Charlie Appleby (Creative Force): “He broke so well and Will (William Buick) had a nice pitch, but Flotus came across on us and floated us back a bit. But, look, he's put up another solid performance and doesn't know how to run a bad race, this horse. We know he was doing his best work towards the end and that was always going to be the way, being a six-furlong horse. I'm delighted. Another solid run from him. Couldn't be happier with him.”

Naval Crown: “I think it was always going to be a bit hard for him at that draw.” 

Fourth-place trainer John Quinn (Highfield Princess): “She ran another great race. I couldn't be more proud of her. She's had a long season so she'll have a well-deserved holiday now and she'll come back in to training for next season. Jason Hart said she was all heart again and ran a blinder. It's been a great experience coming to the Breeders' Cup again and hopefully we'll be back again.”

Fifth-place jockey Juan Hernandez (Artemus Citylimits): “He went pretty good. Broke sharp. I was outside of the speed where I wanted to be. The horse fought me a bit, but gave me the best he had. I was in really good spot. On the turn, I asked him and he started running right away. He switched a little late, but he ran pretty good.”

Following is a selection of quotes from the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, won by Goodnight Olive:

Second-place and third-place trainer Steve Asmussen (Echo Zulu and Wicked Halo): “I thought they ran well: second and third in a Breeders' Cup. It's funny when you draw up what part of the track you want to be on. We've watched three races and it appears what part you want to have. That ended up not being the draws they had. 

On Echo Zulu : “Ricardo was very frustrated with how wide she was, how much ground she gave. At this level, credit to the winner. She ran well. Sometimes the spot you want is taken.” 

Fourth-place trainer Michael McCarty (Ce Ce):“She ran a super race. Broke well. Victor (Espinoza) had her in a good spot. Up the backside, I was very pleased with where she was at; looked like she had some daylight to her outside. Very comfortable. From the three-eighths pole to about the quarter, Victor said the track just wasn't to her liking. She was kind of spinning her wheels around the turn. Straightened for home and got her face clean and came running again. She's always been a little track-sensitive. She's 6, she's an eclipse award champion – obviously it's a huge feather in our cap to have someone like her 3, 4, 5 and 6-years-old, as good as she was. Breeders' Cups are always tough. She didn't embarrass herself today.” 

Fourth-place jockey Victor Espinoza (Ce Ce): “It was great. I advanced out of there and she broke beautifully. She seemed like she was running into the track the way she likes to, but it seemed like the track is a little bit different from the middle of the turn to the stretch. She put in a good run.”

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