ALFRED G. VANDERBILT (G1) QUOTES
Robert “Butch” Reid, Jr., winning trainer of Poseidon’s Warrior (No. 5): “That was a race we’ve been looking at for a long time. He was a notch below the top horses last year. If we had known Shackleford was coming, we’d probably have made other plans.”
“This is my first Grade 1 win. I won a Breeders’ Cup race last year [Afleet Again in the Breeders’ Cup Marathon], but that was a Grade 2.”
“I told the jock to ride him out of the gate if he wanted because sometimes in New York they’ll give you the lead, but when he saw the others go out he did the right thing and laid back off them and let him settle.”
“He’s earned the [right] to stay here the rest of the month.”
Irad Ortiz, Jr. winning jockey aboard Poseidon’s Warrior (No. 5): “I broke running and got a good position on the outside. There were two horses fighting on the lead. I just waited and was patient. When I turned for home I asked my horse and he had something. I tried to do my best in the stretch, and he just kept going.”
Tom McGrath of Swilcan Stables, winning owner of Poseidon’s Warrior (No. 5): “It’s terrific. It’s terrific. I’ve had the good fortune to be with Butch [Reid] and have him train my horses. I’m new to the game and he’s brought a lot of luck to me. I’ve been in the game for about two years. I had partners, Chuck Zacney and Joe Lerro, who were actually the guys that introduced me to it.”
“I was just thinking, ‘It’s his day.’ He ran a great race, and it was terrific to see it. I knew he was capable. I’m just thrilled. I knew he had it in him, but it was his to prove and he did it. I was concerned about [the wet track] a little bit when I saw it, but he’s run on it before.”
Derivation of horse name: “Chuck Zacney’s son was doing a paper on Greek mythology and he loved the name, so he named the horse.”
Derivation of stable name: “It’s a bridge at St. Andrew’s Golf Course. When I was trying to come up with a name I couldn’t think of one, and my attorney was like, ‘I’ve got to get this done. I’m going on vacation.’ I had a picture on the wall, and I pulled it out of thin air.”
Steve Asmussen, trainer of runner-up Justin Phillip (No. 3): “He ran really well. [Poseidon’s Warrior] moved out a little bit, and Ramon was already obligated to going around him. Justin ran a really good race. Nice horse.”
Ramon Dominguez, rider of runner-up Justin Phillip (No. 3): “He ran very hard. He ran very good. There are no complaints. The horse gave me everything he had. With the way the track had been all day, I wasn’t surprised by the pace scenario. The horses who like the off track were there. I knew my horse had the tactical speed and put himself in a good position. Turning for home, I was very excited about my chances. He was coming and kept trying. Unfortunately, we came up a little short.”
Dale Romans, trainer of beaten favorite and 8th-place finisher Shackleford (No. 1): “I didn’t expect him to run like that, but he’s 0-for-3 in the mud. That’s the only excuse we can make for him. Johnny [Velazquez] said when he held him together he was moving along fine. Soon as he dropped his head, it was like he was spinning his wheels. Getting beat a nose or getting beat a neck, you think you’re going to have the best horse. Getting beat that far, something is wrong, and this time I’m just going to blame the racetrack. They had it in as good shape as they possibly can with that much rain today.”
“You never want to have the one hole. You’re going to get a lot of dirt down there if you don’t clear the field. It wasn’t the best circumstances. Johnny said he felt good; he came back good. He’s thrown a few clunkers at me before, and usually it’s been surface related. He is kind of finicky about what he runs on, and it’s been the only thing he’s been finicky about.”
“I asked [Velazquez] if he wanted to ride him back, and he said, ‘Keep me on. Just draw a line through the race. He never ran. We’ll try ‘em again in the Forego [Grade 1, September 1].’ But I don’t think I’ll ever run him back on a sloppy racetrack, no matter the circumstances.”
John Velazquez, rider aboard beaten favorite and 8th -place finisher Shackleford (No. 1): “The first two jumps, I knew right away. He jumped out of there, he didn’t grab onto the bit. I put him into the race, and he did not want to go there. Finally I got a hold of him going to the half-mile pole. He felt comfortable, I was holding him, but as soon as I gave him his head again to try to put him into the race again, he let go right away. He was not comfortable. Seeing the way he’d run on a wet [track previously], I was a little bit concerned…and he proved today, I guess, that he doesn’t like it.”
