| By NYRA Press Staff —Awad Quotes: Steve Klesaris, winning trainer of Buy Land and See (No. 9, $8.70): “We were concerned with the way he broke. We wanted him to settle because he was so rank last time in his first victory. “He was wide. Irad [Ortiz, Jr.] tried to get him to relax, and we accomplished the mission. He didn’t really want to be on the lead and Irad rode him perfect. I’ve always thought a lot of this horse. He’s really matured since he’s arrived in April. With each race, he just continues to train well, and showed me today he’s real. He’s going to Florida and in a couple weeks we’ll map out where we want to go.” Irad Ortiz, Jr., winning jockey aboard Buy Land and See: “I had horse at the quarter pole and Kendrick’s horse [Carmouche, aboard Don Juan Kitten, No. 10] had the momentum and my horse didn’t kick right away. When I got three or four strides, he started to kick very fast and was running. I just kept riding and kept him straight. The whole way he was there for me. He’s a nice horse.” Jose Lezcano, jockey aboard runner-up Pixelate: “He came with a good run, but we just got too far back early on. A little more distance would help him. He tried hard.” |
