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DERBY THEY SAID IT

MAY 3, 2008

Big Brown coasts home well ahead of the ill-fated Eight Belles (Joseph DiOrio/Horsephotos.com) "I don't know if we've seen his best. I knew he was sitting on a race, so all he needed to do was light the track because he had been training lights out. He ate every oat we've given him since his last race. He met every breeze like clockwork. He never sweated at all during the whole time I trained him for this race -- on the plane, on the van, coming to a new place. Just a pleasure to be around. You cannot imagine how lucky we are to have this horse." —Trainer Richard Dutrow on Kentucky Derby (G1) winner BIG BROWN (Boundary) "I've got to say, that his next race coming up is out of my hands, because it's coming back in two weeks. I'm not going to have a chance to train him. I'm just going to kind of play around with him. I don't even know when I'm going to ship him there. But the timing is not good for me. I know he looks like he's the best horse of his crop, but still he's got to go over there in two weeks and has to show up there the right way again. There's going to be some new horses, I don't know what post he's going to get, that kind of stuff. I don't think I'm going to feel as confident. My hands are tied." —Dutrow on getting Big Brown ready for the May 17 Preakness S. (G1) at Pimlico

"I think he was born like this. I think he just separates himself from the rest. Somebody else is going to have to show up and show that they can run with him and I'm sure there's a horse or two out there that is going to make him run, but he was born to run, born with this talent. Again all we have to do is stay out of his way, just not do anything stupid around him, and he'll run like this again."

—Dutrow on the talented Big Brown

Big Brown is on the far left as the field passes the stands for the first time (Ed Van Meter/Horsephotos.com) "The reality is just starting to set in. I knew all week being around the horse he was going to run a big race, he was cool, calmed and collected and has not missed a beat since the Florida Derby in his training. And I was just feeding off of Rick's confidence. I turned to Rick (during the race) and said, 'Is he too far back?' And Rick said, 'He's perfect.'" —Mike Iavarone of owner IEAH Stable on watching Big Brown win the Derby "I had a trainer tell me this once, and it kind of played in my head. Going down the backside, I didn't know if I had any horse. He was just galloping, floppy-eared, off the bridle, cruising, and the guy told me that's the difference between good guys and bad guys. A bad guy (rider) would have tapped him to make sure he had some horse. I just left him alone and let him canter until I needed him and when I needed him, I showed him the stick, and whoosh, he puts me in a new position and I pulled him back and made him wait in his position. —jockey Kent Desormeaux on his ride aboard Big Brown

"He's intelligent. That's what makes him the best now that I've ever ridden. He's got the talent, he's got the brain, and this camp on the end, he's the trainer, he taught him how to be a race horse, so I think he has a lot to do with why I find him my best horse and favorite and fastest horse I've ever ridden."

—Desormeaux on Big Brown being the best horse he's ever ridden

The field swings into the first turn (Pam DiOrio/Horsephotos.com) "I'm so thankful that UPS, NetJets, corporate America came on to racing, because it's going to help racing stay vibrant. I think we should all thank Churchill Downs and the racing (industry) for letting corporate America play, because you know, I think hats-off to the jockeys, because we gave all the money back, and we raised $600,000 for the Disabled Jockeys Fund." —Desormeaux on NetJets and other backers raising money for the Disabled Jockeys Fund via jockey sponsorship   "I didn't even know it happened (her going down), until I saw Gabriel riding on the back of Donna's (broadcaster Donna Brothers) pony. I caught a ride on the ambulance. She is going to have an autopsy. (Fox Hill Farm owner) Mr. (Richard) Porter has asked for her to be cremated." —Trainer Larry Jones on the ill-fated EIGHT BELLES (Unbridled's Song)

"Churchill Downs and the entire Kentucky Derby family extends its deepest sympathy to owners Fox Hill Farms, trainer Larry Jones and jockey Gabriel Saez on the loss of such a brilliant filly. After watching Eight Belles' outstanding performance as the second-place finisher in Kentucky Derby 134, it was heartbreaking to see her fatally injured. We know how much she meant to the people who loved her and carefully nurtured her every step toward Kentucky Derby Day. Our thoughts and prayers are with Eight Belles' connections and her fans."

—Churchill Downs President Steve Sexton offering his condolences on the tragic breakdown of Eight Belles after she ran second in the Kentucky Derby

"I want to say that right now, I think this horse (Big Brown), he showed you his heart, and Eight Belles showed you her life for our enjoyment today. I'm deeply sympathetic towards that team. I'm very sorry for their loss."

—Derby winning-rider Desormeaux on the loss of Eight Belles after the Derby

"He ran a big race. He ran a huge race. We saved every inch of ground we could just to get there. I think he ran a huge race. The colt tried his heart out, and I can't take nothing away from him."

—Calvin Borel, who rode third-place finisher DENIS OF CORK (Harlan's Holiday)

"We always thought the horse belonged (in the Kentucky Derby). His race in the Illinois Derby (G2) was not a reflection on him; it was a reflection on us. That race was a complete throw out. He came back and has trained beautifully, two great works over the track here. We were expecting a big race out of him today, and we got it. Right now, I'd say the inclination is to skip the Preakness (G1), go for the Belmont (G1). But we'll watch the horse for a few days and make a decision."

—David Carroll, trainer of Denis of Cork

"The crowd spooked him leaving the paddock and he went to bucking and dropping his head and he just dropped me in the tunnel. On the racetrack, he was all right. I think my horse ran very game. Big Brown just kicked in the afterburners."

—E.T. Baird, rider of Derby fifth RECAPTURETHEGLORY (Cherokee Run)

The Derby combatants turn for home (Patrick Tyrrell/Horsephotos.com) "I told you he'd run his heart out and he did. It took one hell of a horse to beat him. If Big Brown was not in this race, I'm telling you now that my horse might have pulled the upset of the century. He was moving so good, and then Big Brown went by him and it really just ripped his heart out. He got it back to together and ran on well. I'm so proud of my horse. But what about that Big Brown? Wow, what a horse! Who knows, maybe (Recapturetheglory) left his last 200 yards of energy in the paddock? He lunged twice, dumped E.T. and knocked the wind out my rider. E.T. shook it off, toughed it out and got back up and rode a great race." —Louie Roussel III, trainer and co-owner of Recapturetheglory "Turning for home we were in the right spot to come and get them, but you'll see in the replay that my horse took a funny step, switched leads and I could never get him going again from that point forward." —Corey Nakatani describes his view aboard second choice COLONEL JOHN (Tiznow), who finished sixth

"Out of the gate, he was squeezed. Then, I found myself on the rail. He was last down the backstretch. We picked up a few horses later. But he had no real excuse."

—Shaun Bridgmohan on his ride aboard third choice PYRO (Pulpit), who finished eighth

"We had some bad luck in the gate. One of the crew grabbed his ears and I screamed, 'Loose!' He broke badly. I tried getting him in the race, little by little. He tried his best, but I think he could do better. I still love this horse."

—Manoel Cruz, rider of 11th placer SMOOTH AIR (Smooth Jazz)

"This was an awesome experience. I'm disappointed, of course, but it was amazing. And it looks like we got beat by a pretty nice horse. The filly -- what can I say? We're so sorry."

—James Kasparoff, trainer of early pacesetter BOB BLACK JACK (Stormy Jack), who faded to 16th

"I had a terrible trip. He didn't break and then he ducked in from the crowd. I was never in it -- never in the race."

—Mike Smith, who finished 17th aboard GAYEGO (Gilded Time)

"Going into the first turn he got knocked off his feet, actually from both sides. After that, I don't think he ever really tried. It's too early to say what's next, but I imagine we'll get him back on turf."

—trainer Graham Motion on ADRIANO (A.P. Indy), who finished 19th

"My horse just didn't run any good. He got in between horses on the backside, he was jumping up and down and he didn't run at all in the last part."

—Ramon Dominguez, rider of Derby trailer MONBA (Maria's Mon)

More They Said It:

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