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

Flavien Prat (winning rider of Federal Judge)

“Yeah, he made it look simple. He broke very well today. I was a bit worried with (breaking from) the one (post), but he broke sharp and got himself into the race and did the rest. I thought he was going a good clip, but he was comfortable and he was at ease.”

Elliott Walden (of WinStar Farm, which owns Federal Judge in partnership with Siena Farm)

On whether the team at WinStar had expectations that he was “this kind of horse” at this point in his career

“Yeah, we did. We’ve loved him all along. He needed a little break and we actually had to geld him. He’s such a beautiful horse and he got real heavy on us, so we gelded him to lighten him up and it really did the trick.”

On whether the team is ready for the Breeders’ Cup

“Hope so. Excited.”

Tyler Gaffalione (rider of runner-up and beaten favorite Nakatomi)

“Everything kind of went to plan today, but he was really holding (back).”

Wesley Ward (trainer of Nakatomi)

“Speed was tough today. Sets us up well for the Breeders’ Cup. Sometimes you run two big races on top of the Breeders’ Cup and it will draw you back but maybe we’ll turn a negative into a positive. He ran a real credible race on a real speed-biased track.

“I’m happy but I’m not because I always want to win this race because I haven’t yet.” 

Drayden Van Dyke (rider of third-place finisher Comedy Town)

“Broke well, obviously the track is fast. We were trying to win today. If I would’ve been a little bit more patient with him today, we could’ve run second, but we got third. He ran his race.”