Quotes from the $300,000 Ben Ali (G3)

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

Javier Castellano (winning rider of Scalding)

“I like the way my horse did it today. He broke not too sharp, but (he put me in) the place to keep track of those two horses in the lead, and he made a little sweeping move. I liked the way he finished. I really like the horse. I followed this horse since he started. (Trainer) Shug (McGaughey) did a really good job, and I thank Shug and all the owners for the opportunity to ride the horse. I’m glad we got it done today.”

Anthony Hamilton (assistant to winning trainer Shug McGaughey)

“(Shug said) just to let him break and run his race. He’d been training really well through the Challenger (Stakes-G3 at Tampa Bay Downs March 12) and he came out of that really good, so we were expecting a big effort and we got one.”

Irad Ortiz Jr. (rider of runner-up Dynamic One)

“I got a great trip. I had a decent pace in front of me. He did everything right. I kind of waited a little longer than I wanted to. It was a good effort.”

Brian Hernandez Jr. (rider of third-place finisher Proxy)

“We had a good trip. We were tucked inside the pocket and were able to save ground around both turns. The winner had a little more of a punch turning for home. My horse is more of a grinder; he grinded it out and picked up a piece of (the purse.)”