Racing Sales

Leandro Moro (assistant to Doug O’Neill, winning trainer of Handsome Mike)

On what made the difference today after three off-the-board finishes

“He has run some really tough races. In the last race, he ran against Game On Dude, who is not an easy horse to beat. It looks like the distance is helping him.”

On Handsome Mike’s next race

“Because we train at Del Mar, we’re hoping we can keep him healthy and sound for the Pacific Classic (G1).”

Rodolphe Brisset (assistant to Bill Mott, winning trainer of Emollient)

“The whole team always really, really liked this filly. She’s been good to us and that race (her fifth-place finish in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks on March 30) was just a bad race – it’s horse racing. We took a shot today.”

On whether he knew Emollient would turn in such an impressive performance

Kenny McCarthy (assistant to Bill Mott, winning trainer of Newsdad)

 “It was not our game planning going out there to be that far back, to be honest with you. He’s got a big cruising speed so we thought he’d be a little closer. Leaving the gate, he looked like he stumbled just slightly and then after that, you have to leave it up to your jockey. I thought Julien (Leparoux) did a great job on him. Just tucked him in the first turn, let him go extend himself down the backside and came very smoothly into the stretch.”

Gatewood Bell (co-owner of winner Gypsy Robin)

 “She loves the track. She’s trained here. She’s always run well here. She’s a really fast horse. The Hall of Famer (jockey John Velazquez) made her look good. It helps having him on her back; gives you confidence. She just ran awesome. (Trainer) Wesley (Ward) had her primed today, and she’s a good filly and she ran well.”

 On trainer Wesley Ward, who was not at the race

Jonathan Sheppard (winning trainer of Angel Terrace)

“It looked like a pretty tough spot, but she is a nice filly. She ran in a restricted stakes at Saratoga and she got beat about a length. (Angel Terrace was fourth in the one-mile Nani Rose on July 29.) She was in front after the wire; she absolutely flew through the stretch. I thought if she settled nicely and if the speed backed up I thought she had a shot to get a piece of it. In fact, I wasn’t really looking for the win. It was great.”