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

Todd Pletcher (winning trainer of Leslie’s Rose)

On bringing her to the Central Bank Ashland after finishing third as the heavy favorite in the March 2 Davona Dale (G2) Presented by FanDuel at Gulfstream Park

“We didn’t lose any confidence in her. She didn’t have a great trip that day. I think she got a good education. It was the first time she’d been in that scenario. You could see turning for home (jockey) Irad (Ortiz Jr.) had an opportunity to go into a tight spot, and she just wasn’t experienced enough to do that at that time. But we weren’t down on her, she came back, she breezed beautifully, so we said, ‘Let’s just stick to the game plan’ and I’m glad we did.”

On his confidence heading into the Kentucky Oaks-G1

“She’s always been a high-quality filly. She’s always trained like she wants to run longer and I think she proved that today, getting the opportunity to go two turns and finishing with good energy. So, fingers crossed.”

Irad Ortiz Jr. (winning rider)

“She broke so good. I had a couple horses with speed outside, and they broke better than me, so after that I had to sit off right behind them. She handled it pretty well. Last time (in the Davona Dale) she did the same thing, so I was not afraid to be behind the speed. I just bided my time. She was traveling beautiful every step of the way. At the quarter pole I was able to hit a gear and she was ready. She kept galloping out after the wire. We’re very happy with her.”

Bill Mott (trainer of champion Just F Y I, who finished second)

“She got off a tick slow down the backside. (Jockey Junior Alvarado) said it took about two jumps to get her feet underneath her down the backside, but there was some traffic in front of her. When he asked her to finish up on the turn for home, she finished (well) but we probably needed to knock the rust off a little bit. She has been (unraced) for five months. 

“She beat some nice fillies (today). We didn’t win but our second main objective was to get a race in her and have her ready for the next one. So I am not totally disappointed.

“She got beat, but I can give some reasons for that. The Kentucky Oaks has been the plan all along, so I see no reason not to do that.

Just F Y I is scheduled to return to Churchill Friday evening.

Junior Alvarado (rider of Just F Y I)

“She finished pretty good. I was pretty happy with her; she hasn’t run in almost five months so I was pretty happy with the effort today. We’re running to the next race, the Kentucky Oaks. Hopefully, she should be even tougher there.”

Florent Geroux (rider of third-place finisher Impel)

“Great trip. I thought I was in a great spot, but I got run down at the end.”