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

Irad Ortiz Jr. (winning rider)

“She always breaks good. I talked to (trainer Chad Brown and said) I wanted a good pace in front of me. She can go either to the lead or come from off the pace. I saw they had more speed than me, but I know the first couple jumps she’s going to break good. So I let them go to get a strong pace in front of me, so I would be able to take back without fighting too much and get in the clear earlier. It worked out perfect. I sat right behind the speed, let her do her thing, and she did the rest.”

Comparing this race in her first start of 2023 to her championship year in 2022

“She’s been so nice every time since I’ve gotten on her. She’s a nice filly. The trainer and the whole team did a great job bringing her back. The last time she ran was in the Breeders’ Cup last year (winning the Grade 1 Filly and Mare Sprint Nov. 5 at Keeneland) and they did a great job bringing her back ready. Great teamwork.”

Luca Panici (rider of runner-up Maryquitecontrary)

“She ran excellently. We were against a champion. For a moment I thought that I had it, but there’s no complaints. She ran huge. I’ve known this filly from day one, and I was pretty confident in her.”

Florent Geroux (rider of third-place finisher Society)

“I went to the lead. Honest fraction, nothing crazy. I got outkicked by the winner. She (Goodnight Olive) came to me very easily at the quarter pole and just went on. My filly tried hard and she kept on going to finish third. She was no match for the first two.”