Saturday, October 2, 2010
JOCKEY CLUB GOLD CUP INVITATIONAL (G1) QUOTES
Toby Sheets, assistant to winning trainer Steve Asmussen, of Haynesfield (No. 6): "It means a lot for the horse. He goes out every day and puts out his all for us. I wasn't sure if he would get the 1 ¼ miles, but he's won at 1 1/8 miles and kept on going. He made it look easy. It was exciting [that] he saved it for home [
Ramon Dominguez, winning jockey aboard Haynesfield (No. 6): "It was clear that he was the speed in the race. So I just did my best to try and slow him down because he was pretty eager. I was so amazed when he hit the half-mile pole and switched to his left lead, the way he wanted to sprint from there. I wasn't sure what to do because I didn't want to discourage him, but I didn't want him to open up even more on the field because it was too early in the race. So, I just slightly let him out some and then when he switched back to his right turning for home, he still had so much left in him. I know a lot of people will try to take something away from him because he was the only speed in the race, but he didn't have to run the way he did."
Al Stall, Jr., trainer of runner-up and beaten favorite Blame (No. 2): "There's not much you can do. That was another one of those races that was out of control. It reminded me of the [Grade 2 Super Derby September 19, 2009 at Louisiana Downs, finished second] last year and we did well after that. You can't win 'em all. We're in good shape though. He's had quite a bit of time off, so we'll be OK. We'll be all right."
Garrett Gomez, rider of runner-up and beaten favorite Blame (No. 2): "I thought I was in a good spot as we headed up the backside. They slowed down the pace and I was moving along, but he wasn't taking me to them. I was squeezing him just to keep him where I had him, where I thought I had dead aim on them. At about the half-mile pole, Ramon's horse hit another gear and starting rolling. Down the lane my horse never actually bore down because that horse was so far in front of him. He had nothing to look at in the eye."
Nick Zito, trainer of third-place finisher Fly Down (No. 1): "Obviously, he [Haynesfield] was the lone speed. We wished there was someone to go with him. Haynesfield is a pretty good horse. He likes this track. If everything goes well, we would like to go [to the Breeders' Cup Classic]. He's a mile-and-a-quarter horse. Now, we have to hope he has a good month."
Jose Lezcano, rider of third-place finisher Fly Down (No. 1): "The track is playing a little bit speed-favoring, and the pace was slow. I let my horse sit back and make one run, but the horse on the lead never stopped running. My horse ran well."
