Derby post-draw quotes
DiscreetCat
Moderator
from Churchill Downs:
ADVICE (Selection No. 13, Post position No. 4, morning line 30-1)
DUNKIRK (Selection No. 6, Post position No. 15, morning line 4-1)
JOIN IN THE DANCE (Selection No. 1, Post position No. 9 morning line 50-1)
Trainer Todd Pletcher on Dunkirk
We talked about it this morning and our first choice was 15. So we got what we wanted. I was a little hesitant about going in next to Pioneerof the Nile (who picked fifth and selected No. 16) because I know he doesnt always come out of there the right way. But 15 is a good spot. Youve got some room there (it is the first opening in the auxiliary gate with space to the inside) and being outside you can fall into a good spot. Were happy with it.
On Join in the Dance
Well, we thought about it a lot sort of. Then when you know that Rashards jersey number is 9, youll know why we picked it. (Rashard Lewis, a 10-year veteran of the NBA who currently plays for the Orlando Magic, wears No. 9 on his basketball jersey. He is one of the horses three owners along with Jake Ballis and Reagan Swinbank.)
Elliott Walden, vice president and racing manager of WinStar Farm, on Advice
We like it. Itll be fine. We like the selections for all our horses. (The other two WinStar horses drew on either side of Advice Mr. Hot Stuff in No. 3 and Hold Me Back in No. 5.)
ATOMIC RAIN (Selection No. 9, Post position No. 14, morning line 50-1)
WEST SIDE BERNIE (Selection No. 20, Post position No. 1, morning line 30-1)
Trainer Kelly Breen on Atomic Rain
Its a good post for him, just outside the speed. It should be OK.
On West Side Bernie
It is what it is. Ill get together with Stew (jockey Stewart Elliott) and we may have to change our tactics.
CHOCOLATE CANDY (Selection No. 3, Post position No. 11, morning line 20-1)
Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer
Its good; good. I would rather have had the 10, but 11 is the next best thing. Were happy.
DESERT PARTY (Selection No. 17, Post position No. 19, morning line 15-1)
REGAL RANSOM (Selection No. 2, Post position No. 10, morning line 30-1)
Trainer Saeed bin Suroor on Regal Ransom
Thats a good draw. The horse always shows a good turn of foot. He can take a good position early in the race. It depends how fast they go, but if he sits close behind the lead Ill be really happy.
On Desert Party
Hes been more calm and relaxed in his races. If he can take a nice position, Id be happy with that. Im happy with the draw.
FLYING PRIVATE (Selection No. 19, Post position No. 20, morning line 50-1)
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas
I went outside. There are four or five horses inside of me that arent speed horses. I feel like well be able to get a better position. In reality, probably 100 yards out of the gate, well probably be in the 14 or 15 post. I dont think its so bad, but I really didnt have much of a choice.
FRIESAN FIRE (Selection No. 11, Post position No. 6, morning line 5-1)
Trainer Larry Jones
I was surprised the six was still left. I thought there would be more speed horses to draw inside. Right now we are in good shape. We had the five last year with Eight Belles and worked out a great trip. He should be laying anywhere from third to fifth early and suck back behind the speed and hopefully get a clear run when the real running starts.
GENERAL QUARTERS (Selection No. 8, Post position No. 12, morning line 20-1)
Owner-trainer Tom McCarthy
I was really worried we wouldnt get in the middle where we wanted to be, but it all worked out. Post 12 ought to be just fine. Im hoping were sitting 3-4-5 going into the first turn right behind the speed horses.
HOLD ME BACK (Selection No. 12, Post position No. 5, morning line 15-1)
Trainer Bill Mott
We would have had to go, I think, to 17 or inside. Who knows? I didnt want to be in the one, two or three. Sometimes you take a lot of pressure down in there going into the first turn. You can have a good trip from anywhere and a bad trip from anywhere. Its a little hard to determine until the gate opens. Were satisfied with the draw.
I WANT REVENGE (Selection No. 10, Post position No. 13, morning line 3-1)
Trainer Jeff Mullins
I kind of left it up to the owners to pick. Im just going to concentrate on getting him ready and getting him there safe. Ideally we wanted most of the speed inside of us. Thats what we tried to do, but theres maybe one outside of us. But were here to play and hope our horse stays healthy and everyone has a nice trip. I havent given (jockey Joe Talamo) any instructions so far, so I dont think Ill start now.
David Lanzman, managing partner of I Want Revenge
We could see where it was going; we could see the direction it was going. We wanted the 14, but they took it right in front of us. We just wanted to avoid a disaster. We didnt want one, two, three, four and we didnt want 17, 18, 19, 20. So, we couldnt be happier.
MINE THAT BIRD (Selection No. 7, Post position No. 8, morning line 50-1)
Trainer Chip Woolley
Everything is super. We were hoping for six through nine, and wound up with eight. Where were at, hell get a chance to settle without being jostled too much on the far inside going into the first turn.
MR. HOT STUFF (Selection No. 16, Post position No. 3, morning line 30-1)
Trainer Eoin Harty
Its good, sure. Well save lots of ground.
MUSKET MAN (Selection No. 18, Post position No. 2, morning line 20-1)
Trainer Derek Ryan
Well, he broke his maiden going from the two hole, so it should be OK. And anyway, we cant change it.
PAPA CLEM (Selection No. 4, Post position No. 7, morning line 20-1)
Trainer Gary Stute
It went perfect. Lucky No. 7 is what we were hoping for. I was hoping more of the speed would be inside us, but I think it will work out. Then again, if he blows out (three furlongs) in 34-and-change tomorrow morning, I might have wished we put him even farther inside. Note: Papa Clem will work 3 furlongs Thursday at 6:15 a.m.
PIONEEROF THE NILE (Selection No. 5, Post position No. 16, morning line 4-1)
Trainer Bob Baffert
It all depended on the draw. When I got the five-draw, I said Im going to go to 16. If I had had a higher number, I might have gone inside with him. He hasnt had that dirt experience, so there will be less dirt on the outside than there will be on the inside.
SUMMER BIRD (Selection No. 14, Post position No. 17, morning line 50-1)
Trainer Tim Ice
Im happy with the post. Once he breaks, he should be able to drop over toward the inside and get good position into the turn.
ADVICE (Selection No. 13, Post position No. 4, morning line 30-1)
DUNKIRK (Selection No. 6, Post position No. 15, morning line 4-1)
JOIN IN THE DANCE (Selection No. 1, Post position No. 9 morning line 50-1)
Trainer Todd Pletcher on Dunkirk
We talked about it this morning and our first choice was 15. So we got what we wanted. I was a little hesitant about going in next to Pioneerof the Nile (who picked fifth and selected No. 16) because I know he doesnt always come out of there the right way. But 15 is a good spot. Youve got some room there (it is the first opening in the auxiliary gate with space to the inside) and being outside you can fall into a good spot. Were happy with it.
On Join in the Dance
Well, we thought about it a lot sort of. Then when you know that Rashards jersey number is 9, youll know why we picked it. (Rashard Lewis, a 10-year veteran of the NBA who currently plays for the Orlando Magic, wears No. 9 on his basketball jersey. He is one of the horses three owners along with Jake Ballis and Reagan Swinbank.)
Elliott Walden, vice president and racing manager of WinStar Farm, on Advice
We like it. Itll be fine. We like the selections for all our horses. (The other two WinStar horses drew on either side of Advice Mr. Hot Stuff in No. 3 and Hold Me Back in No. 5.)
ATOMIC RAIN (Selection No. 9, Post position No. 14, morning line 50-1)
WEST SIDE BERNIE (Selection No. 20, Post position No. 1, morning line 30-1)
Trainer Kelly Breen on Atomic Rain
Its a good post for him, just outside the speed. It should be OK.
On West Side Bernie
It is what it is. Ill get together with Stew (jockey Stewart Elliott) and we may have to change our tactics.
CHOCOLATE CANDY (Selection No. 3, Post position No. 11, morning line 20-1)
Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer
Its good; good. I would rather have had the 10, but 11 is the next best thing. Were happy.
DESERT PARTY (Selection No. 17, Post position No. 19, morning line 15-1)
REGAL RANSOM (Selection No. 2, Post position No. 10, morning line 30-1)
Trainer Saeed bin Suroor on Regal Ransom
Thats a good draw. The horse always shows a good turn of foot. He can take a good position early in the race. It depends how fast they go, but if he sits close behind the lead Ill be really happy.
On Desert Party
Hes been more calm and relaxed in his races. If he can take a nice position, Id be happy with that. Im happy with the draw.
FLYING PRIVATE (Selection No. 19, Post position No. 20, morning line 50-1)
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas
I went outside. There are four or five horses inside of me that arent speed horses. I feel like well be able to get a better position. In reality, probably 100 yards out of the gate, well probably be in the 14 or 15 post. I dont think its so bad, but I really didnt have much of a choice.
FRIESAN FIRE (Selection No. 11, Post position No. 6, morning line 5-1)
Trainer Larry Jones
I was surprised the six was still left. I thought there would be more speed horses to draw inside. Right now we are in good shape. We had the five last year with Eight Belles and worked out a great trip. He should be laying anywhere from third to fifth early and suck back behind the speed and hopefully get a clear run when the real running starts.
GENERAL QUARTERS (Selection No. 8, Post position No. 12, morning line 20-1)
Owner-trainer Tom McCarthy
I was really worried we wouldnt get in the middle where we wanted to be, but it all worked out. Post 12 ought to be just fine. Im hoping were sitting 3-4-5 going into the first turn right behind the speed horses.
HOLD ME BACK (Selection No. 12, Post position No. 5, morning line 15-1)
Trainer Bill Mott
We would have had to go, I think, to 17 or inside. Who knows? I didnt want to be in the one, two or three. Sometimes you take a lot of pressure down in there going into the first turn. You can have a good trip from anywhere and a bad trip from anywhere. Its a little hard to determine until the gate opens. Were satisfied with the draw.
I WANT REVENGE (Selection No. 10, Post position No. 13, morning line 3-1)
Trainer Jeff Mullins
I kind of left it up to the owners to pick. Im just going to concentrate on getting him ready and getting him there safe. Ideally we wanted most of the speed inside of us. Thats what we tried to do, but theres maybe one outside of us. But were here to play and hope our horse stays healthy and everyone has a nice trip. I havent given (jockey Joe Talamo) any instructions so far, so I dont think Ill start now.
David Lanzman, managing partner of I Want Revenge
We could see where it was going; we could see the direction it was going. We wanted the 14, but they took it right in front of us. We just wanted to avoid a disaster. We didnt want one, two, three, four and we didnt want 17, 18, 19, 20. So, we couldnt be happier.
MINE THAT BIRD (Selection No. 7, Post position No. 8, morning line 50-1)
Trainer Chip Woolley
Everything is super. We were hoping for six through nine, and wound up with eight. Where were at, hell get a chance to settle without being jostled too much on the far inside going into the first turn.
MR. HOT STUFF (Selection No. 16, Post position No. 3, morning line 30-1)
Trainer Eoin Harty
Its good, sure. Well save lots of ground.
MUSKET MAN (Selection No. 18, Post position No. 2, morning line 20-1)
Trainer Derek Ryan
Well, he broke his maiden going from the two hole, so it should be OK. And anyway, we cant change it.
PAPA CLEM (Selection No. 4, Post position No. 7, morning line 20-1)
Trainer Gary Stute
It went perfect. Lucky No. 7 is what we were hoping for. I was hoping more of the speed would be inside us, but I think it will work out. Then again, if he blows out (three furlongs) in 34-and-change tomorrow morning, I might have wished we put him even farther inside. Note: Papa Clem will work 3 furlongs Thursday at 6:15 a.m.
PIONEEROF THE NILE (Selection No. 5, Post position No. 16, morning line 4-1)
Trainer Bob Baffert
It all depended on the draw. When I got the five-draw, I said Im going to go to 16. If I had had a higher number, I might have gone inside with him. He hasnt had that dirt experience, so there will be less dirt on the outside than there will be on the inside.
SUMMER BIRD (Selection No. 14, Post position No. 17, morning line 50-1)
Trainer Tim Ice
Im happy with the post. Once he breaks, he should be able to drop over toward the inside and get good position into the turn.