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

Jose Ortiz (winning rider of Barnes)

“In the race at Saratoga (two starts back, when third in the Aug. 23 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial-G1), around the three-eighths pole he wanted to go and I was behind a wall of horses, so I had to wait. He’s a big horse; it took him a while to get going. I feel like he was the best horse that day. 

“Today I talked to (trainer) Bob (Baffert) earlier, and he wanted me to break out of there very aggressive and put him forward. The horse helped me and I did just that. He finished the race running. I was very happy with the performance. He was ready today. I want to thank the owner (Zedan Racing Stables) and Bob for giving me the opportunity to ride this amazing horse.”

Irad Ortiz Jr. (rider of runner-up and beaten favorite Captain Cook)

“He broke great. Strong pace. I got a good shot, but that horse (Barnes) kept going. We lost to the best today.”

Luis Saez (rider of third-place finisher Owen Almighty)

“A pretty good trip. There was a lot of pace. He broke from the wall (of horses) and was traveling nice. Good effort.”