December 23, 2024

Oaks They Said It

Last updated: 5/1/09 9:26 PM


OAKS THEY SAID
IT

MAY 1, 2009

“She struggled the whole time trying to keep up. In the middle of turn,
I got into her pretty good. I wasn’t going anywhere, so I kind of let her
regroup and she found some more and was able to get third. The filly who won it
is something else.”


—jockey Garrett
Gomez, who rode FLYING SPUR (Giant’s Causeway) to a third-place finish in
Friday’s Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs


“It meant a lot to be third in this race. Third was great for our filly,
who looked like she would drop out of it, but then made a run. That’s some super
filly who won.”


—trainer
Bill Mott on Flying Spur’s placing in the Oaks


“I thought we could be second or third, but she just was not good enough
today. The winner, she was just too good.”


—jockey
Rafael Bejarano, who piloted BE FAIR
(Exchange Rate) to fourth in the Oaks


“We’d have been all right if I’d have had a rocket. What can you say?
She ran away and hid. Congratulations.”


—jockey Corey
Nakatani, who was aboard Oaks fifth NAN (High YIeld)


“Awesome. Simply an awesome victory for that filly. My filly is still
running. The other one is gone.”


—trainer
Wally Dollase, father of Nan’s conditioner, Craig Dollase


“What can I say? She just ran away. Calvin (Borel on Rachel Alexandra)
didn’t say anything when he went by me. He couldn’t.”


—jockey Victor
Espinoza, who held the reins on Oaks sixth-placer GABBY’S GOLDEN GAL (Medaglia
d’Oro)