Expensive Queen and Segesta awaiting the results of the Jenny Wiley, Jenny Doyle/Past the Wire Photo
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Keeneland Press
Luis Saez (rider of dead-heat winner Expensive Queen-IRE)
“I was riding her pretty hard and she was giving me a good turn of foot. I know it was kind of tight there but I just tried to look for the spot. We found the rail and she made a huge move. I thought we were going to run on by but the other filly (Segesta) — she’s a pretty good filly and she came back — so that’s why we get the (dead) heat. I’m pretty excited about the way our filly ran.”
Brendan Walsh (trainer of Expensive Queen)
“Like (jockey) Luis Saez said, she wasn’t in the ideal spot. Most of her races since she’s come here she’s come outside and been more comfortable with it. They were down there (on the rail) nice and tight, but credit to Luis, he kept after her and she responded to him, and we’re quite happy with the result. I was prepared for the worst but, listen, congratulations to the Knelmans (of owner Farfellow Farm) and all credit to my team. When you end up in this (winner’s) circle, it’s never too bad.”
Flavien Prat (rider of dead-heat winner and favored Segesta)
“I thought I got beat. She was traveling good — I thought I was in a good spot. Very good run turning for home, she stayed with the field, then she reengaged herself.”
Garrett O’Rourke (representing Juddmonte, breeder and owner of Segesta)
On waiting for the dead-heat result to go official
“She looked a winner until about the sixteenth pole, and then (jockey) Flavien (Prat) said he went to the outside to engage a filly and then the other filly (Expensive Queen) came up the inside. When I saw it on the replay, I turned around and said, ‘I’ll take a dead heat there.’ I meant I thought we were maybe out-nosed, and then when it flashed up on the screen and it came up 1-10, I turned around and went, ‘Argh — we got beat’ and then everyone said, ‘No, it’s a dead heat.’ So it’s up-and-down emotions. I’m delighted for the filly. She’s very deserving of it and had come so close in Grade 1s for so long. We did win a Grade 1 in the Matriarch (last out at Del Mar Nov. 30), but we still got (Juddmonte’s) agreement to keep her in training this year. That’s a risk to take with a filly like that. Straight out credit to (trainer) Chad (Brown) for having her so ready to do this today. So very rewarding.”
Juan Hernandez (rider of third-place finisher Medoro)
“I had a great trip. I was following the 10 (Segesta) I watched that filly run in Del Mar when she won, and she’s just a really nice filly. My plan was to stay behind the pace. The plan worked out really well. I was following the right filly. Turning for home, I swung outside and my filly gave me a really nice kick at the end. I just couldn’t come by the other horses. I thought maybe I had it before the eighth pole, but the other filly (Segesta) came by and the inside filly (Expensive Queen) was flying. But my filly ran really good. (Trainer) Peter (Eurton) was really happy with her. She’s a little filly with a big heart, and I think she’ll improve a lot next time.”
