Derby Contenders They Said It

Last updated: 5/1/14 5:24 PM

DERBY CONTENDERS THEY SAID IT MAY 1, 2014 "Yes, I realize it is part of the job. I try my best to work with the media folks, but sometimes it's hard. I've got a lot of horses I'm responsible for (he has approximately 150 horses in training currently) and a lot of times I'm in my office dealing with horses in New York or New Jersey and not able to jump right on media requests. I spend a lot of time dealing with assistants, owners, people I need to work with to do my job and it can get busy. On a real busy day my phone calls and texts and e-mails will be in the hundreds. But I know media people have a job to do, too, and I try my best." —Todd Pletcher on dealing with the media; the trainer will saddle four horses for Saturday's 140th Kentucky Derby in DANZA, INTENSE HOLIDAY, VINCEREMOS and WE MISS ARTIE "When I first started a horse in the Derby in 2000, it was different with media types then. Back then it seemed they'd come at me in groups -- four from New York would come and ask questions; then four from Kentucky would come and often ask the same questions. Now it seems it's a bit easier in that it mostly happens in press conference style with everyone there at once. That makes things easier." —Pletcher "Well, I don't think I'm the only one to have this one come his way, but it did happen to me. I had a fellow ask me if my Derby horse didn't run well, would I bring him back next year and try again. Not much you can do with that one." —Pletcher on whether he's ever had a question he couldn't answer "With his running style and the way the speed's on the inside, that should help us, hopefully, a little bit. Hopefully, he gets a clean break. Last time, he did not get a clean break. We need the speed to show up and be aggressive. And with 'Vicar' (Vicar's In Trouble) having the 1-hole, he'll be aggressive." trainer Dallas Stewart on COMMANDING CURVE drawing post 17; with the scratch of Hoppertunity, Commanding Curve will now break from post 16 "Well, the 1-hole is the closest way home. We're going to save a little ground. He's got tactical speed. I think he'll come out. (Jockey) Rosie (Napravnik) has ridden him in all of his races. She's knows what to do. In life, I'll tell you, you have to play the cards you're dealt. So we've been dealt the 1-hole. We're going to play it. I'm not going to fall on my sword just because we got the 1-hole. A lot of people moaning and carrying on, but we're looking at it like the glass is half-full." —owner Ken Ramsey after VICAR'S IN TROUBLE drew the rail for the Derby "If I could predict what was going to happen, I wouldn't have to train horses." —trainer Mike Maker on whether or not Vicar's In Trouble got an unlucky draw "I feel better than I ever have about any of my chances going into the Derby. I think that we really fit well with this group. I think he's peaking at the right time. I think he's got all the parts that it takes to win a Derby." —conditioner Dale Romans, who will send out MEDAL COUNT in Derby 140 "Because it all changes when the race starts anyhow. I mean, you've got a fairly good idea. You know my favorite quote of (Hall of Fame trainer) Charlie Whittingham's? 'A good jockey doesn't need instructions, and bad jockey can follow them.' You don't tell a jock anything, because anything you plan, even in life, whatever you plan, it doesn't work out that same way anyhow." —trainer Billy Gowan, who said he wouldn't make plans for RIDE ON CURLIN and jockey Calvin Borel in the Derby "I've been very pleased with who he is since he came back to Churchill and I think a lot of that has to do with his experience here all last fall. He's a horse that spent a lot of time here, in this barn, and has had a lot of success over this racetrack. I feel that he's done better every single day since he's been here." —conditioner Steve Asmussen on TAPITURE, who made three of his four juvenile starts under the Twin Spires "It's not frustrating. I don't pay too much attention to the comments. You just do what you have to do. The way he trains and the races he's run, he's proven he can go longer. I'm not too worried about the comments. It's like that in every sport; there are a lot of opinions. After the wire we'll see who is wrong or right." —trainer Jose Garoffalo on WILDCAT RED's ability to get the 1 1/4-mile Derby distance </div></body>

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