Quotes from the $200,000 Castle & Key Bourbon (G2)

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

Kenny McPeek (winning trainer of Tiz the Bomb)

On Tiz the Bomb breaking through the gate before the start

“It’s not a good omen, typically, and yeah, it makes a trainer nervous when it happens, but (jockey) Brian (Hernandez) did a great job wrangling him up and keeping him under control. It’s worse if he comes off or something like that. This horse has got a lot of talent and we’re fortunate to have a guy like Brian who handles things on the oval. He does a great job.”

Regarding going to the Breeders’ Cup with Tiz the Bomb after indicating Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity-G1 winner Rattle N Roll might bypass the Breeders’ Cup

“I think for this horse definitely the (one-mile) Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (Turf-G1) is ideal. Everything happens for a reason. You could have made the case that Tiz the Bomb could have run yesterday for sure, and Rattle N Roll – of course, they’re apples and oranges. It’s a high-level problem we’ve got right now. We’re just going to enjoy this, relish the moment and make those decisions as we get closer.”

Brian Hernandez Jr. (winning jockey)

On Tiz the Bomb breaking through the gate before the start

“We were ready, we were set up, and as the last horse was walking in, I turned his head to set him to where we could leave the gate in good order. When he did he got a little anxious and just charged forward one step and the gate popped open. Most of the time when that happens horses have a hard time recovering from it, but when we finally reloaded and he left the gate in good order the second time, we were able to get around the first turn in good order. I was really confident in him, and he took care of it from there.’

Mike Maker (trainer of runner-up Stolen Base)

"I would think the Breeders' Cup is still on the table. He ran a good race. He was a little further back than I expected but he finished strong."

Flavien Prat (rider of Stolen Base)

“The horse ran good. We had a pretty good trip. For a second when I tipped him out, I thought I could get him (Tiz the Bomb), but the winner felt me re-engaging.”

Edwin Gonzalez (rider of third-place finisher Credibility)

“I had a good trip but in the stretch it was a little bit tight.” 

David Carroll (assistant to Credibility’s trainer, Mark Casse)

“He just needs a little more experience. He will be a nice horse for the future.”