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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