Quotes from the $350,000 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G2)

Jonathan Thomas (winning trainer of Delight)

“(I credit her) good owner (for the progress she’s made since April), letting us take our time and pick the appropriate spots. Her ability to relax (impressed me most today). We were hoping to get her covered up, but she really relaxed. I love seeing her ears twitching back and forth. You’re always hoping you have horse, and she kicked away. That’s when you see (jockey) Luis (Saez) really, really good, when he’s on the lead like that. He’s so well rounded, but that’s when he’s absolutely brilliant.”

On gaining a win over the Keeneland turf course, where the Breeders’ Cup World Championships will take place

“It’s the greatest. And it’s for such a wonderful owner (George Strawbridge of Augustin Stable). He’s really put a lot of faith in us. It’s really special.”

Luis Saez (winning rider)

“It was pretty easy (to get her to relax on the front end). The plan was to follow somebody and have a target for the lead, but she broke so well and did it on her own. She controlled the pace and relaxed beautiful. When she came to the top of the stretch, it was all about her. She (accelerated) pretty fast (at the top of the stretch). She had a big turn of foot and I didn’t really have to do anything – just keep going on with her and she did it.”

Flavien Prat (rider of runner-up Knockyoursocksoff)

“She broke poorly, but after that I had a pretty good trip. She kicked on well.”

Rafael Bejarano (rider of third-place finisher Bling)

“The winner was on the lead for the most part, I was second. I was close but wasn’t really close. This was her first time going two turns and she did it really comfortably. When we turned for home I saw Delight take off so I tried to follow, but she just gave up a little bit but was a great performance with only losing second by a neck.”