Click here for a replay of the race and the post-race interview with winning connections.

Irad Ortiz Jr. (winning rider of Rhetorical)

“Honestly, I didn’t see too much speed in the race. I was a little concerned about being on the lead because last time (when Rhetorical finished fourth in the Fourstardave-G1 at Saratoga Aug. 8) Zulu Kingdom (IRE) was in front of me, but they went a little slow, too, so we decided to take the jump and go for the lead and try to slow him down, and it worked out beautiful. (Trainer) Will (Walden) did a great job. The horse switched off pretty nice before the race today in the post parade. He behaved really nice, so that was the key. They did a great job.”

Will Walden (winning trainer)

“He seems to have come out of Saratoga and back to Churchill in really good form. I don’t know if it has anything to do with the track switch or the time of year, but I know he came into a real zone last year this time of year and he’s done it again. The real answer (to having him ready) is my team: my assistant Carina Cortez, who rides him out; Edgar, who breezes him; Francisco, who grooms him —all these guys. This horse takes a lot of effort but, man, he sure pays off.”

On the advantage of having the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at Keeneland:

“It’s going to be a huge advantage. We’re going to face probably a stiffer crowd. He’s going to have to show up and do what he did today, but there’s no reason for us to think he won’t do it.”

Cieren Fallon (rider of runner-up Lake Forest-GB)

“We got squeezed a bit, but we wouldn’t have been the winner today off the pace we went. But I think the Breeders’ Cup, there will be more runners, a stronger gallop. 

“He takes a while to get going, which can be his downfall, he can put himself a bit too far back and (has to) do it the hard way when they get going a gallop like that. It’s always an uphill task from there on. But we answered a lot of questions today, with the two turns, the mile, the track and the travel (to the U.S.).  I just think it’s all positives going to the Breeders’ Cup.”

John Velazquez (rider of third-place finisher Title Role-GB)

“Good trip. It went slow enough and he got close enough, but at the same time he was a bit shy in there. I was like ‘Come on, don’t do that to me,’ but he ran and put in a good effort.”