Quotes from the $350,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G2)

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

Wayne Catalano (winning trainer of Manny Wah)

“This horse had a lot of bad luck. He could have won a few more races. Today, the race, the trip – Corey (Lanerie) gave him one and the horse does what he does; he tries all the time. He’s one of our favorite horses in the barn. Everybody loves him and he loves everybody. He’s a people’s horse. I’m just so happy for Shane (Sellers) and (owner) Miss Susan (Moulton) and the whole crew and everybody that helped me get to where I am today.”

On what it means to have secured a spot in the $2 million Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) at Keeneland: 

“That’s kind of what we’re all in this for, when you get to these big races. That’s what we do. I’m very happy and blessed to have this opportunity, once again. I couldn’t have done it for a better person than Susan and Shane. It’s a great team.”

Corey Lanerie (winning jockey)

“I just rode my horse. Wayne told me to ride him with confidence, and I spoke with Shane (Sellers) earlier and he said, ‘Just ride him like you know how to ride him and he’ll come running. Hopefully the pace falls apart.’ When I saw him in the post parade today I thought he looked even better than when I rode him last time, and I know he likes this track, so I just rode with him with a lot of confidence. I just let him catch his stride. Turning for home, to be honest with you, I didn’t know if I was going to catch them, but when he saw that last little hole, he hit another gear and he was going to get home.”

Paco Lopez (rider of runner-up Long Range Toddy)

“After the break, I had to settle behind (fast early fractions). But when the horse came off the rail, I was able to make a move. My horse responded great in the stretch. But the inside horse (Manny Way) had the advantage, and it was too late.”
 

Rey Gutierrez (rider of third-place finisher Top Gunner)

“It was a really good trip. Special Reserve is a tough horse to follow. My horse really was game toward the end. He showed that he belonged in the Breeders’ Cup today and I’m just really proud of him. He ran really good today against some really tough horses.”

Jeremiah O'Dwyer (trainer of fourth-place finisher Sibelius)

“He broke a little slower than ideal, and we were farther back than we wanted to be early. He stayed on and ran even the whole way. They were going fast fractions, and he was laying just behind them. I would have liked to see him break better, but he ran his race and we were not disappointed. If he had won, we’d take a shot at the Breeders’ Cup for sure but he was fourth. We'll have a chat with the owners and make a decision from there.”

Junior Alvarado (rider of Sibelius)

“I had a pretty decent trip. They went pretty quick in front. I was stuck on the outside, and when we turned for home he was just even the whole way.”