Saturday, April 24, 2010
WITHERS QUOTES
Robert Reid, winning trainer of Afleet Again (No. 4): “We really hadn’t considered this race before Wednesday. It was a small field, and I love the one-turn mile for him, and the big, sweeping turns here. My only instructions to the jockey were to take hold early on, and hopefully the speed might back up. He broke so sharp, and was so close, but Abel [Mariano] didn’t panic. He’s a big, giant horse, and you don’t want to get him checked. Abel took him to the outside and gave him a clear run, and that’s what made the difference. Very nice ride. We were concerned the race was a little too short for him; I believe he’s a legitimate mile and an eighth, mile and a quarter horse, but that said, he’s not eligible for the Triple Crown races.”
Abel Mariano, winning jockey aboard Afleet Again (No. 4): “It was my first time riding this horse. The trainer told me that the track was deep here and the stretch was long. He told me don’t go too wide, let him break, and when you get to the quarter pole put him outside. That’s what I did, my horse responded, and I won. I’m very excited, very happy.”
Edgar Prado, rider aboard fourth-place finisher and beaten favorite, D’ Funnybone (No. 2): “On the backside he kind of shied away from the horse coming in [Castaneda]. I had the chance to get out, and I didn’t want to be trapped inside. He just didn’t have the finish. The mile [distance] got him.”
