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BREEDERS' CUP THEY SAID IT NOVEMBER 6, 2009
"We were running in this race regardless. But we were very happy that she was going in the Classic." —co-owner Martin Wygod on if he would have run Life is Sweet in the Ladies' Classic against Zenyatta "I was trying to scream, but I wasn't breathing, so I was really trying to get it out, but I couldn't get it out because I had stopped breathing. It's extremely exciting. Especially when you know she got the job done and was still close to an eighth of a mile left for her. It was, I don't know, exhilarating." —Wygod describing his reaction to seeing Life is Sweet winning the Ladies' Classic "If she's totally sound, we would seriously think about racing her another year, but she's going to have to go over a careful exam. If she's 100 percent, we would think about another year." —Wygod about bringing Life is Sweet back for a five-year-old campaign "She had a little bit of trouble in the stretch, but I don't think that cost her the race. The pace was fast, and I thought that she would get to it, but she just didn't have it." —jockey Rajiv Maragh on his ride aboard third-placer MUSIC NOTE (A.P. Indy) in the Ladies' Classic "She was just in-and-out out there. She went left, she went right on me, and I couldn't get her to settle. And then, it just wasn't there. Today just wasn't her day." —rider John Velazquez explaining PROVISO (GB) (Dansili [GB]) antics in the Ladies' Classic, where she ran fourth "She was a little too fresh and keen and she had herself traveling three-wide into the bend. She didn't relax enough down the backstretch. Look where the winners come from; tells you everything, doesn't it?" —trainer John Gosden on the performance of Ladies' Classic fifth RAINBOW VIEW (Dynaformer) "Naturally I am a little disappointed. She's a young filly and she's had a tough season. She got tired at the end. The important thing is that she came back OK, and that was our main concern. She's a nice filly. And she's only three and has her whole career ahead of her." —conditioner Josie Carroll on Ladies' Classic favorite CARELESS JEWEL (Tapit), who ran eighth and last after setting quick fractions on the front end
"(Midday's) a peculiar filly in that she's got loads of class -- a great turn of foot -- but she tends to hit a flat spot. Of course it's a worry when the horse comes off the bridle a little bit. But I knew when she hit top gear she'd respond and find plenty for me. And thankfully she had plenty in reserve when it mattered." —jockey Tom Queally is well acquainted with Midday's character "I dissected it to begin with, and found there wasn't a whole lot of pace, and I didn't want to give the leaders too much of a lead. I always had it in the back of my mind that she might hit a flat spot, which she did. But as the boss likes me to ride the horses, keep it simple, get a nice position, and get her on the stretch. Keep her balanced. And I knew she had the heart and the attitude, plus the ability to dig deep when it mattered." —Queally's pre-race analysis set the stage for his winning ride "I've got to sit down and talk to Henry and Prince Khalid. But the plan would be to take her back to Europe and campaign her next year in Europe. And possibly come defend her title, hopefully at Churchill next year." —Juddmonte Racing Manager Teddy Grimthorpe on future plans for Midday "Personally I'd love to run her another year, but I've experience with horses like (1979 champion older mare) Waya (Fr). They tend to leave so much on the racetrack that I'd just as soon turn her into a broodmare." —owner George Strawbridge Jr. speaking of champion FOREVER TOGETHER (Belong to Me), who finished third in her Filly & Mare Turf title defense
"Well, I think it is the greatest moment by far. And many, many thanks to Dale. His father and I were very close. His daddy trained for me. And then, he passed on a little early in life, and Dale's my adopted son." —Frank Jones, the owner/breeder of Tapitsfly, likewise savors the moment "Well, I'm probably one of these folks that doesn't have a lot to do with the breeding or the racing of them. I just leave that in the hands of other people, and Beau Lane and Dale decided who we should breed this mare to. And obviously they've done a great job. And I just stand back and let them do their work, and I can go on about my other business." —Jones gives the credit for Tapitsfly's success to others "Yeah, I had trouble getting it drawn up because you couldn't figure out the formula. I told Robby (Albarado) we didn't have a lot of options. I thought we needed to break and give (Tapitsfly) the first sixteenth, eighth of the mile to try to clear the rest of the pack. And it worked out perfect, because it seemed she just liked to sit off of her (pacesetter Rose Catherine [Speightstown]) ." —Jones on his strategy session with jockey Robby Albarado
"I don't know. It could have been a couple of things. It could have been the Pro-Ride. He had a long campaign all year long. Running against the best horses throughout the year. So it is the end of the year, so, you know, fresh horses came at him. I'm not going to blame it on the Pro-Ride, I'm not going to blame it on anything. It's unfortunate he went out in his last race not winning. First thing I thought about when I came to the gates today though." —Albarado reminisces about his experience with two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, who wound up fourth in his synthetic debut in the 2008 Classic
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