Haskell Stakes Quotes & Results

By Tom Luicci —-

QUOTES FROM JOSE ORTIZ, WINNING RIDER ABOARD GOOD MAGIC IN THE GRADE 1 HASKELL INVITATIONAL

“He broke really. We got into a good position and he relaxed really well. When I asked him to run I pushed the button and he was there for me. It was a really easy trip. He made it easy for me. When he passed the eighth pole he actually gave me another gear. When we hit the sixteenth pole I said `all right, let me gear down because we have the Travers coming up so I want to save a little bit. I think he did it pretty easy. I’m just happy we got the win.”

“To be honest with you I never worked him after the Preakness but I saw him every day. Every time I went out in the same set to breeze another horse for Chad Brown he was there. I didn’t breeze him but I was able to watch him breeze. He was working unbelievable. The last five, six breezes he was working unbelievably. All the credit to Chad for having him ready to come into a huge race like the Haskell off a 10-week layoff. He had him ready, 110 percent.”

I thought the two horse had a little more speed. But when the three horse cleared him I said `okay.’ I planned to be third then but went the three horse cleared the two horse I said, `okay, I’ll take second.’ He relaxed well and when I asked him to go obviously he responded really well.”

LUIS SAEZ, JOCKEY ABOARD RUNNER UP BRAVAZO:

“My horse ran great. I did everything I could to get him up. I switched to the left to see if I could get more out of him. I just lost to a better horse today.

JOE BRAVO, JOCKEY ABOARD THIRD-PLACE FINISHER LONE SAILOR

“He gave me his all today. I lost to two very nice horses. He ran his race. What can I say?”

$75,000 WOLF HILL STAKES

WINNER – Imprimis ($4.60, $3.00, $2.60)

2ND – Pool Winner ($4.00, $3.40)

3RD – Proforma ($4.20)

WINNING TIME – 1:01.69

WINNING EXACTA – $23.40

WINNING TRAINER- (Joe Orseno) –“In his last race at Woodbine he had an unfortunate trip. He was trapped on the inside, steadied twice down the back side and we still thought we were going to get there. Then he got in more trouble in the stretch and it took all of his chances away. This was a big race today. We chose this race to get him back on track. Not that e lost anything. I just wanted a race where I thought he would be a little more comfortable. He hasn’t been in his own stall and walked over in a while. We ship him everywhere he goes. The ultimate goal is the first weekend in November if we can get him to the Breeders’ Cup.”

WINNING JOCKEY (Jose Ortiz) – “I broke him sharp. I knew Paco Lopez (aboard Ray’s Warrior) was going to go. I sat right off him and my horse was nice and relaxed. When I turned for home, my horse took off. I wanted to make sure I got a good trip. I watched a replay of the last race and he got in a little bit of trouble. Having a clean trip today was key.

“This horse has such a bright future ahead of him. I’m excited for what the future holds for this horse.”

$100,000 MOLLY PITCHER (Gr. 3)

WINNER – Berned ($10.20, $5.00, $2.80)

2ND – Dreamcall ($5.20, $3.20)

3RD – Divine Miss Grey ($2.20)

WINNING TIME – 1:44.52

WINNING EXACTA – $55.00

WINNING TRAINER- (Adrian Roll, assistant to H. Graham Motion) – “Her last race was a little tough for her. Joe Bravo has ridden her a couple of times now so I didn’t really have to give him a lot of instructions. He knows her better than. He said being on the outside he had to outbreak the other horses. He didn’t. Fortunately, he was able to save ground. She made a big move at the three-eighths pole.

WINNING JOCKEY (Joe Bravo) – ““She broke well. I took her off the pace because I knew the horses up front were going quickly. Down the back side, I started to creep up a little at a time. When we got to the top of the stretch, I knew I had the two in front beat. The only thing I was worried about from that point was the horse tracking me. I’m blessed to ride these amazing horses and I can’t thank the connections enough for letting me ride this filly. She is special.”

$100,000 WINSTAR MATCHMAKER STAKES (Gr. 3)

WINNER – Elysea’s World ($10.80, $3.60, $2.60)

2ND – Dream Awhile ($2.40, $2.20)

3RD – Special Event ($3.20)

WINNING TIME – 1:47.70

WINNING EXACTA – $19.60

WINNING TRAINER- (Chad Brown) –“In a situation like this (being first and second) you’re hoping for a dead heat – and we almost got it. These fillies are so close. They were equal weights today, which made a difference. Both of them I though got good trips. They were a nose apart. They’re that close in ability, so it was nice to see tem both on the wire. Elysea’s World really had a bad trip last race. She was wide and it just didn’t work out for her. She had trained very well coming up to this race, as did Dream Awhile. They both fired their best shot.”

WINNING JOCKEY (Jose Ortiz) – “I’m glad we got the win. To be honest, when we passed the three-eighths pole I didn’t think we could catch the other filly because Joe (Bravo, aboard Dream, Awhile) was going pretty easy. I was already trying to get close to him and he was already passing horses on the outside very easy. When we passed the quarter-pole I still didn’t think I would get there. I kept riding my horse, riding my horse, and when we got to the sixteenth pole I thought, `Now I’ve got a shot.’ My filly got a little bit of momentum and we got clear on the outside and Chad’s other filly backed up a little bit and we just got it. She gave me everything she had.”

$150,000 MONMOUTH CUP (Gr. 3)

WINNER – Name Changer ($10.40, $4.60, $3.00)

2ND – Zanotti ($3.20, $2.40)

3RD – Page McKenney ($2.60)

WINNING TIME – 1:49.56

WINNING EXACTA – $33.20

WINNING TRAINER- (Alan Goldberg) – “I don’t what happened in his last race. I was a little surprised, other than he ran in fractions that were too fast early. It was a real clunker. It was head-scratcher and he was close, so we said we’ll try it because he was going really good before that last race Today I thought we’d be a little farther back but I thought that with the horses in first (Phat Man) and second (Remembering Rita) early he’d be out there going with them. This horse has been breaking better than he did in the past. He broke good, maintained his position and everything was cool from there.”

WINNING JOCKEY (Jose Ortiz) – “It was important for me to break him sharp and keep him in a forwardly placed position. When I saw the horses in front of me battling for the lead, I knew I had a good chance of winning the race. The horse showed how much heart he had to fend off the horse on my outside”

$100,000 OCEANPORT STAKES (Gr. 3)

WINNER – Synchrony ($3.40, $2.60, $2.10)

2ND – Doctor Mounty ($11.20, $5.60)

3RD – Irish Strait ($3.00)

WINNING TIME – 1:42.05

WINNING EXACTA – $32.80

WINNING TRAINER- (Michael Stidham) – “He’s a very classy horse who showed up today like we thought he would. He was able to give that good turn of foot when he needed it. We’re not sure what’s next for him but this is certainly what we needed to see to take the step back up in Grade 1 and Grade 2 company. Joe Bravo knows him really well. He got to know him at the Fair Grounds this winter and he’s a perfect fit for him. (The horse) got murdered at the start. But the horse has shown he can sit back or lay a little closer if they are going slow. Today I was worried because they went :25.56 for the opening quarter and he was way back in the pack. But when you’ve got a lot of horse the hole isn’t moving faster than you are. You’re moving faster than the hole.”

WINNING JOCKEY (Joe Bravo) – “I got shut off at the start, got him to relax nicely behind horses going down the backside. Approaching the far turn, I was getting a little worried there would be no place to go. When the hole opened up along the rail, he exploded late.”