STAKES QUOTES

By Santa Anita News


WISHING WELL STAKES





RAFAEL BEJARANO, UNZIP ME, WINNER: “I should have been on the lead. I didn’t try to use too much horse this time. I knew the three was going to put on pressure. My filly broke really sharp from the gate and I saw the three rush a little bit so I decided to take her back and wait a little bit. She showed me a big kick in the stretch.”



JOEL ROSARIO, TERODA, SECOND: “Perfect trip. That’s a tough horse (Unzip Me) to beat. I tried my best to beat her. She’s always there. I thought my horse ran a very good race, we were just second best today.”



TRAINERS



January 28, 2012



SENSATIONAL STAR STAKES QUOTES

JOCKEY QUOTES





SANTA YSABEL STAKES QUOTES

JOCKEY QUOTES



MARTIN PEDROZA, WILLA B AWESOME, WINNER: “My plan was, there was no speed on paper, so if they would chase me for a little bit, I could pull her away early. If the other horses had to come from behind, I figured I’d have a pretty good chance to win the race. It was just the way I planned it. I took advantage of her speed. I put her where she wanted to be, and then I said, ‘Come and get me.’”





CRYSTAL WATER STAKES QUOTES

JOCKEY QUOTES



RAFAEL BEJARANO, HOLLADAY ROAD, WINNER: “I knew there was going to be plenty of speed in the race. I got comfortable with my horse, and knew I could be patient a little bit. When I saw the No. 6 horse and the other horse, they tried to soften each other up, so I relaxed and waited a little bit. From the half-mile pole, everybody spread out, so I tried to go to the rail and make a little move, and that was it.”


VALENTINE DANCER STAKES QUOTES

JOCKEY



COREY NAKATANI, CHOKECHERYMARY, WINNER: “I worked her for Gary over at Hollywood Park, and he said she’s a hard-trying filly. She does everything you ask her to do. My main concern was getting her relaxed. I’ve watched some of her races, and she’s a little high-strung and wants to do a little too much too early. All I did was get along with her, keep her happy, and when I asked her, she saved ground. When I moved her outside, she kicked like she’s supposed to. What a job Gary and the guys are doing with her.





SANTA MONICA STAKES




JOEL ROSARIO, HOME SWEET ASPEN, WINNER: “Last time, she was probably going a little too quick, but she was much better today – she was impressive. I kind of saw the other horse coming on the outside, so I just waited a little bit, but I knew she had a little more left because I let her go out easy early, and she did.”


The 4-year-old filly Home Sweet Aspen, sent off at odds of 5-1, earned her first graded win in the Santa Monica.
Handled strongly along the inside by Joel Rosario, the game Home Sweet Aspen edged another outsider, Sugarinthemorning, by a neck in a terrific finish to the seven-furlong event for older fillies and mares. The first two finishers are both by the sire Candy Ride .



SAN PEDRO STAKES

JOCKEY



JOEL ROSARIO, MIDNIGHT TRANSFER, WINNER: “I just let him break and let him find his stride. Sometimes when you’re on the rail, you get stuck there, but I didn’t want to be in a hurry. Going to the three eighths, I just stayed where I was and it finally opened up when got to the top of the stretch. Sometimes you have to get lucky when you have the inside post position and we did. He finished up really strong and I think he can run long. I think he can do anything.”



MARTIN GARCIA, DRILL, 8-5 FAVORITE, FIFTH: “No comment.”