WESTCHESTER QUOTES

Friday, April 30, 2010

 

 

WESTCHESTER QUOTES

 

Hall of Famer H. Allen Jerkens, winning trainer of Le Grand Cru (No. 7): “I didn’t think he’d be that big a long shot. I don’t know why he didn’t run so well in Florida, but we gave him a rest and he had a couple of real nice works, just great. We’ll enjoy this one and see how he comes out of it. But, of course, we will look at the [Grade 1, $500,000] Met Mile [May 31] – do we ever stay home when we should?”

 

Note: This is the sixth Westchester win for Jerkens, who previously won the race in 1975 with Step Nicely, 1982 with Fabulous Find, 1983 with Singh Tu, 1994 with Virginia Rapids and 1998 with Wagon Limit.

 

Cornelio Velasquez, winning jockey aboard Le Grand Cru (No. 7): “My horse broke on the lead and stayed in a good position. He relaxed – didn’t fight. Ramon Dominguez had a lot of horse (aboard Ironman Jon), but my horse ran a big one. He likes it here at Belmont Park.”

 

Jimmy Jerkens, trainer of second-place finisher Convocation (No. 8): “Well, if we had to get beat, at least we got beat by the Chief.  We’re wondering why our horse kind of gave himself a little breather there, but it was good to see him come back on, that’s a good sign.”