Saturday, June 9, 2012
WOODFORD RESERVE
Chad Brown, winning trainer of Desert Blanc (No. 4): “Ramon rode a beautiful race. He had excellent position in the first turn to take it from there. Bloodstock agent Peter Bradley deserves a lot of credit. He tried several times to buy this horse in
“I thought we could move him forward in start No. 2 here [after a second in the Grade 3 Fort Marcy]. He’s looking for firm ground and he got it today. It’s a wonderful race. I got third [in 2010] with Expansion and got a little taste.”
Ramon Dominguez, winning jockey aboard of Desert Blanc (No. 4): “I had a great trip. I was fortunate enough to get in between horses turning for home and he was pretty determined to get up. I was concerned about the lack of early speed but I just trying to do my best to keep him cool and we prevailed at the end.”
Rosie Napravnik, rider of runner-up Papaw Bodie (No. 3): “I was nosed out at the wire today. I was on a horse that was every bit as talented as the winner. He’ll have his day.”
Todd Pletcher, trainer of beaten favorite
Javier Castellano rider of fourth-place finisher and beaten favorite Hudson Steele (No. 7): “I had a beautiful trip. That’s what I expected. There was no speed in the race. The way the fractions were, he was pretty comfortable on the lead. I didn’t want to take away from the way he wanted to go. Nobody wanted to go the lead. It worked out great for me. The horse responded really well today.”
“The track is fast today, and firm. The horses with speed carried a lot today. I tried to steal the race; unfortunately, those horses are good horses, too. I thought at one point he could do it. I asked him and he responded so well, but he couldn’t hold on.”
