Click here for a replay of the race and the post-race interview with winning connection

Brian Lynch (winning trainer of Hot Beach)

On how he prepared Hot Beach to break from the starting gate so quickly

“I tried to follow my good buddy (trainer) Wesley Ward’s instructions over the years: Leave there running. I hope (she’s gotten better); I hope she makes this transition from two to three (years old). She had a great little 2-year-old campaign, and Jose worked her a bit during the winter, so I felt very comfortable with him up on her today. It was a good result. It’s a lovely race to win here in the spring.”

Jose Ortiz (winning rider)

“She got in (the gate) and put her head down so I knew she was going to break (from the gate) quick. It was a matter of the 9 horse (Foxxy Cleopatra), if she was going to break quick as well, but she didn’t. I was very happy to go to the lead. She broke like a shot and then I just sat chilly. When I asked her to go, she responded well.”

Tyler Gaffalione (rider of runner-up Zoe’s Prime)

“The filly broke alertly. She put me in a good spot. I tried to put as much pressure on the leader as I could, but she was going a little too quick for us. I believe we ran a very credible race, just second best. It wasn't her favorite track today, but she handled it fine. I was able to get outside of (the winner) before (my filly) caught any kickback, so we had a clear face most of the race.”

Luis Saez (rider of third-place finisher Kodiac Wintergreen [IRE])

“It was good. She broke a little slow out of the gate. Maybe we could’ve finished second if we had a perfect trip.”