SANTA MONICA STAKES

SANTA MONICA STAKES



JOCKEY QUOTES



MIKE SMITH, FINEST CITY, WINNER: “Breaking from the one hole in this slop, you gotta get outta there. She’s never had this kinda dirt in her face and I certainly didn’t want her to get any today. My only concern with being away as long as she has (Nov. 5) is that we’d probably have to use her from the rail, but I saw she’s been working really well. I knew she’s handled the grass and she’s got a real athletic way of going, so I thought she could probably handle this surface today. Ian’s done a great job getting her ready.”



TRAINER QUOTES



IAN KRULJAC, FINEST CITY, WINNER: “Absolutely (it was good to get this one under her belt). “We’ll enjoy this and see what she wants to do in a couple of weeks. No (we won’t keep her sprinting). There aren’t that many sprints for her here in California.

“This could be a once-in-a-lifetime day (should Finest City be named Eclipse Award female sprint champion of 2016 tonight at Gulfstream Park). “It’s awesome to share it with my father (trainer Eric, who is in Florida for the ceremony). Hopefully we’ll get that award today.

“We’re just keeping her fresh. We’re not really laying her off at all. That’s the way she runs the best. The inside (post) was a big obstacle today and Mike (Smith) just took it to ’em. She’s got stamina; she’s got everything you’d ever want in the breeding of a race horse.