EMPIRE CLASSIC (NYB) QUOTES

Saturday, October 20, 2012

 

EMPIRE CLASSIC (NYB) QUOTES

 

Bill Mott, winning trainer of Lunar Victory (No. 8): "[Juddmonte Farms is] still celebrating Frankel, I believe. You know what, they pay attention to all of them, so I'm sure they're happy to have this one. Every once in a while they'll buy a yearling at auction, and apparently they liked the looks and the pedigree of this one. I guess he had his chance [in England], but fortunately they brought him back [to the United States]."

 

"If I was the connections of [runner-up Saratoga Snacks], I'd be pretty pleased. He battled on hard, and [he is] a pretty doggone good horse. Our horse is a tough horse. I think they had a good horse race. They hooked it up a little ways, and our horse is more seasoned and [had] been the mile and an eighth. [Saratoga Snacks] will be a horse to contend with in the future, that's for sure."

 

"I'm glad it turned out this way and we'll keep him in training and try him next year. I'm not sure [what we'll do next]. This is just a long ball – I'm speaking for myself – we might have a look at the Clark [Grade 1, November 23 at Churchill Downs]. It would be open company and a good race, but we might consider it. I'll discuss it with the connections, and then we'll figure it out."

 

"I don't care if it's a $20,000 maiden claiming race, I enjoy winning. I like it all. I don't downplay any of it. It's all important, and it's important for this horse."

 

 

Junior Alvarado, winning jockey aboard Lunar Victory (No. 8): "I rode another horse [Ludo Bagman on May 31] against Saratoga Snacks when he came back after a layoff. I remember I thought that I had it that day, and somehow [Saratoga Snacks] fought back and took off again. I kind of knew already that right when I got to the horse, I was going to try and stay a little bit away from him because I know he will fight back. He's a really nice horse, too.

 

"[Lunar Victory] broke really good and then I just tried to settle him down and relax because I knew there would be a little speed in the race. I was a little wide by the half-mile pole, I didn't want to be in that position, but I didn't have much choice. I didn't want to go on the inside. He has so much class though, turning for home I just tried to stay away from [Saratoga Snacks], and he gave me a nice kick at the end."