STAKE QUOTES BY SANTA ANITA PARK

BUENA VISTA STAKES QUOTES


GARY STEVENS, PONTCHATRAIN, WINNER: “I was hoping we would get the trip we did. Tom has done such a good job preparing this filly for this race.

“With a filly like her, you can get a perfect trip. She has good gate speed. Those races down the hill, for fillies that are tough to handle, it changes their whole mind set. She relaxed for me and we just brought it home. I think if she keeps relaxing for me we can go even further with her. Even if she doesn’t relax, she’s a great miler.



SAN VICENTE STAKES

JOEL ROSARIO, KOBE’S BACK, WINNER: “Last time he clipped heels and that was a tough race over at Hollywood. He handled the seven furlongs well today.

“I’ll talk to my agent, he makes all the calls, all the decisions (on whom I ride) but I like him; today was very impressive and he looked good today.”

MIKE SMITH, CHERUBIM, SECOND: “He was just cruising early, nice and happy. We just got outrun.

SANTA MARIA STAKES

JOE TALAMO, IOTAPA, WINNER: “We were going pretty slow and that was kind of our plan, to take her to the lead. She was just pricking her ears back and forth. She showed a lot of class today; I was so fortunate to get back on her. This was all class, she’s never been worse than third and she’s run some great races. Looking for a big year from her.
“I was happy with the fractions today; I pretty much just stayed out of her way. She’s a classy filly, seven career starts and second to Beholder so she’s all class.