Grade 1 Arlington Million Quotes

Junior Alvarado, jockey of winner Fort Washington: “I wanted to make sure he got comfortable. He’s a tricky horse to ride sometimes. When he’s at his best, you know it right away. Today I felt that going into the first turn. I wanted to make sure I saved enough ground so that I had a big punch at the end. When I swung out in the clearing he finished up very strong. My horse has a powerful turn of foot.”

John Velazquez, jockey of third-place finisher Integration: “I think the track was a little bit hard for him. I think he likes a little more give to it. He didn’t have it today.”

Brian Hernandez Jr., jockey of fourth-place finisher Mystik Dan: “He was in a great spot turning for home, they just outpunched him. Turning for home I had Integration right there and I thought we could get it done. He quickened but with grass horses like he ran against today, it’s a different turn of foot. He handled the grass fine but he just didn’t travel in my hands like I’d like him to on the backside today.”

Ben Curtis, jockey of fifth-place finisher Cairo; “I couldn’t be happier with the horse. He was only beaten a couple of lengths. I thought at the top of the lane, we’d win. Sometimes it takes a race to acclimatize to American racing. The tracks are different. His next stop is Kentucky Downs and he’ll love it there. When everyone quickened out of the gates, he didn’t have that initial kick. I was planning on being in front of Integration. But he was in a perfect spot so I wasn’t going to swap it. His first run in America, he ran fantastic. He’s going to take a step forward from it and he’s going to prefer the track next time.”

Grade 2 Beverly D. Quotes

Javier Castellano, jockey of Charlene’s Dream“I let her go, let her roll,” Castellano said. “It worked out perfectly. She stayed engaged when Be Your Best took it to her in the stretch, and when I asked her for more, she responded for me. I am very proud of her.”

Brendan Walsh, trainer of place-finisher Spanish Eyes: “Those fillies on the lead are very good fillies. It was a good race. You can’t be disappointed, our filly ran her race. They got away from her a little bit. A little further and I think we’re probably in business. She could go a little further. It’s only her third run in the U.S. We like everything she has showed us so far.

Tyler Gaffalione, jockey of third-place finisher Be Your Best: ““Going into the first turn I was letting her run along and I felt like I was asking her to do too much too early. I looked over and Javier had a good hold so I just let him go on and get in a good tracking position. Coming to the eighth pole I thought I had him but the last sixteenth, she started shortening stride. She loved the going, was skipping right over it. I think more so than anything she just got tired.”

Grade 2 Secretariat Quotes

Ben Curtis, jockey of winner Giocoso: “The mile was always going to suit him,” Curtis said. “A couple went forward and I got a beautiful sit. He relaxed beautifully on the back. When the seam came, I had so much horse, I knew he was going to take it. We know he stays, so I had all the boxes ticked.”

Junior Alvarado, jockey of second-place finisher Simulate: ““Class wise, he belongs. Distance wise, we’re not for sure. I think he needs more distance. But he did prove today that he has enough kick going one mile. He ran great. We know where we are with him.”

Javier Castellano, jockey of beaten favorite Dream On: “I’m a little disappointed. It was a beautiful trip. I had him in a good stalking position and when I let him move to the front I thought it was a cinch. He moved beautifully to the 1/8th pole but after that didn’t show that same kick. Maybe because the pace was a little bit slow, maybe he didn’t love the very hard course.”