JOHN HETTINGER (NYB) QUOTES
David Donk, winning trainer of Hessonite (No. 3) and runner-up Freedom Rings (No. 4): “Ramon has so much confidence in her. Like he said, with a different horse, the post may have been an issue; with her, no. The way she runs, wherever there’s a seam, she’s there; wherever he wants her, she’s there. Very professional. I’m just very fortunate my name is on the program. With Freedom Rings, she ran terrific. I can never get races long enough for her; Johnny [Velazquez] said when he got her outside she really came running. To finish 1-2, you can’t get any better. With Hessonite, the state-bred races [New York Showcase Day, October 20] are six weeks away. Do I want to run in an open race before that? It’s possible. If it’s soft ground, she’ll run well over that. We’ll have to see.”
Ramon Dominguez, winning jockey aboard Hessonite (No. 3): “She’s such a nice filly to ride. Before the race I knew there was not much speed. I said ‘If I happen to be laying second or third, great.’ But, I didn’t end up there. I just listened to her and she was relaxed. She does everything that you ask her, and she doesn’t mind the soft going here, which doesn’t hurt either. She’s a nice one.”
