Post-race quotes from the Zenyatta camp
DiscreetCat
Moderator
from the Santa Anita website:
JOCKEY QUOTES
MIKE SMITH, ZENYATTA, WINNER: I dont know what to say, Im like a fan. This was her first race back and I wanted to make it as easy as possible. I thought I would be able to follow Striking Dancer and wheel out wide when I needed to, but when Alex (Solis) didnt move on I eased back and decided to follow Pretty Unusual. I couldve wheeled wide when we turned for home, but I decided to follow Chantal (Sutherland, aboard Pretty Unusual) as far as I could. I cut some corners and gambled a bit, but I was confident at all times that if she needed to make room, she could. Shes a bit of a bully. This was a great, great race for her and it wasnt taxing at all. We got enough out of this race to move forward.
TRAINER QUOTES
JOHN SHIRREFFS, ZENYATTA, WINNER: Obviously, he (Mike Smith) went to the inside, and then had to come back out, so . . . I just have a lot of faith in Mike. I know once he gets her in the clear, he has a good chance. Shes cut in between horses and everything, but when you have a big X on your back, a lot of places dont open up that normally would.
Asked if everything was OK if she would go to Oaklawn for the Apple Blossom (April 9) no matter what: Yeah, yeah. I didnt get a chance to see it (the New Orleans Ladies Stakes), but I heard it, and it sounded great . . . Shes (Zardana) tough. Californias tough . . . Were tough. Dont take us short. Zenyatta will run in the Apple Blossom regardless. That was never really the thing, for us. It really wasnt. Zenyatta came back so we could have some fun with her and other fans could see her. That was the whole thing. Shell go back to Hollywood (Park) and get ready for Oaklawn.
Asked if she was better now than she was before: Thats hard to say. How can you be better than perfect.
CO-OWNER JERRY MOSS: Were just excited shes back. She looks amazing. Everybodys happy. We watched Rachels race in the paddock. Im sorry she lost, but she lost to a better horse today. Well see what happens the next race. Zardana might try to get to that same race (Apple Blossom) and that would be fine . . . Rachel was a little short today, perhaps. You could see that Calvin (Borel) wasnt really pushing her a whole lot . . . He held back a little bit. I dont think he wanted to exhaust her on this race, and if he lost, he lost. Hopefully, shell come back a stronger race horse in a month, and well see the real Rachel, so to speak.
Everybody really loves her. Everybodys so pleased to have her back and to root for her, and when she wins, she makes everybody happy. Its sort of like something going on inside each and every one of us. Shes perfect. Shes the idol of perfection we all strive for. Thats about as profound as I get.
JOCKEY QUOTES
MIKE SMITH, ZENYATTA, WINNER: I dont know what to say, Im like a fan. This was her first race back and I wanted to make it as easy as possible. I thought I would be able to follow Striking Dancer and wheel out wide when I needed to, but when Alex (Solis) didnt move on I eased back and decided to follow Pretty Unusual. I couldve wheeled wide when we turned for home, but I decided to follow Chantal (Sutherland, aboard Pretty Unusual) as far as I could. I cut some corners and gambled a bit, but I was confident at all times that if she needed to make room, she could. Shes a bit of a bully. This was a great, great race for her and it wasnt taxing at all. We got enough out of this race to move forward.
TRAINER QUOTES
JOHN SHIRREFFS, ZENYATTA, WINNER: Obviously, he (Mike Smith) went to the inside, and then had to come back out, so . . . I just have a lot of faith in Mike. I know once he gets her in the clear, he has a good chance. Shes cut in between horses and everything, but when you have a big X on your back, a lot of places dont open up that normally would.
Asked if everything was OK if she would go to Oaklawn for the Apple Blossom (April 9) no matter what: Yeah, yeah. I didnt get a chance to see it (the New Orleans Ladies Stakes), but I heard it, and it sounded great . . . Shes (Zardana) tough. Californias tough . . . Were tough. Dont take us short. Zenyatta will run in the Apple Blossom regardless. That was never really the thing, for us. It really wasnt. Zenyatta came back so we could have some fun with her and other fans could see her. That was the whole thing. Shell go back to Hollywood (Park) and get ready for Oaklawn.
Asked if she was better now than she was before: Thats hard to say. How can you be better than perfect.
CO-OWNER JERRY MOSS: Were just excited shes back. She looks amazing. Everybodys happy. We watched Rachels race in the paddock. Im sorry she lost, but she lost to a better horse today. Well see what happens the next race. Zardana might try to get to that same race (Apple Blossom) and that would be fine . . . Rachel was a little short today, perhaps. You could see that Calvin (Borel) wasnt really pushing her a whole lot . . . He held back a little bit. I dont think he wanted to exhaust her on this race, and if he lost, he lost. Hopefully, shell come back a stronger race horse in a month, and well see the real Rachel, so to speak.
Everybody really loves her. Everybodys so pleased to have her back and to root for her, and when she wins, she makes everybody happy. Its sort of like something going on inside each and every one of us. Shes perfect. Shes the idol of perfection we all strive for. Thats about as profound as I get.