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

John Velazquez (winning rider of Willy D’s)

“Once the main speed scratched out of the race, I knew he would want to be in the lead, but I was going to take my chances to get to the lead and get him to relax. Once he got to the lead, he threw his ears (up) and by the first turn he relaxed beautiful. (Trainer) Mike (Maker) has done a really good job with this horse to get him back on this kind of level. 

“From then on I was pretty confident. Once you get to the three-eighths pole, you have to ride him. He’s not going to give you everything he can unless you start riding him. Once I started riding him and they got to him, they didn’t pass him. He was going to come back. I’m proud of him. He put up a really good fight right to the wire.”

Mike Maker (winning trainer)

“I don’t think we really reversed (his form). He’s been a really good horse since we got him. He’s just getting gamer and gamer. It looked like he was passed in the stretch and he dug back in to get the victory.”

Peter Proscia (of winning co-owner Paradise Farms)

“We kind of figured he might try to make the lead. If there was inside speed, we’d lay off. He made the turn and got the lead and from there (jockey) Johnny (Velazquez) took it home. Congrats to all the (trainer Mike) Maker team and everyone involved with this horse. He’s been a war horse for us. We gave him the time after the last race (a win in the Charles Town Classic-G2 Aug. 28) and he came back and rewarded us with a win, so it’s awesome. It’s great to win here (at Keeneland). It’s an awesome place. We love to be here.”

On whether he got nervous watching the stretch run

“Of course. I think everybody did. Congrats to the other horses. The 8 (runner-up Stars and Stripes) ran his eyeballs out and we did too, and I’m so glad for us. One of my partners couldn’t be here today but I’m sure he’s watching from home.”

Luis Saez (rider of runner-up and beaten favorite Stars and Stripes)

“Good trip. He tried the whole way. In the last sixteenth, he got a little tired but he ran his way.”

Francisco Arrieta (rider of third-place finisher Nevada Beach)

“He didn’t like the kickback at all. Passing the half-mile pole, I started saving ground. When he got the kickback, he refused to go. He likes to be in the clear.”