JOCKEY QUOTES

           EDWIN MALDONADO, MERNEITH, WINNER: “It never gets old. I’m very happy. I just want to thank Bob for leaving me on her. I’m pretty sure he could have put anybody else but the fact that he put me back on her, it means a lot to me.

“I was just letting her do everything on her own, I didn’t want to take anything away from her.

When (Ce Ce) came (to) her, she saw her and picked it up on her own. I didn’t even have to ask her. I’m very pleased. I know that last time (Santa Monica, Feb. 13, 2021), we sat second and she kind of shied away from the filly in front of her, and today Bob just told me to put her on the lead, so she did the rest.

“When we turned for home, I was pretty sure she was the winner, I didn’t even ask her until she switched leads. She’s a nice filly, she’s just a nice filly.”

TRAINER QUOTES

         BOB BAFFERT, MERNIETH, WINNER: “She won this race last year and she needed her last race (on Jan. 2).  Edwin gets along with her great and it was a perfect pace for her.  Everything went well and when she’s on, I’ve always thought very highly of her.  She got to prove it today, she beat a good field of fillies.  Today she put it all together…She came back (after her last start) and worked great, like a good horse.  I’m so proud of her.  You get attached to these fillies, especially (when they’re by) American Pharoah.

“Some of these riders, they don’t get the chances.  I’ve had a lot of luck with Edwin.  He’s calm, cool, collected.  He’s the kind of guy…He comes out (to the paddock) like he’s ridden for me all my life.  I can tell he’s pretty cool…When I need him, I use him…This jockey colony, they’re all really good, but they gotta get the right horses.”

            NOTES: The winning owner is HRH Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud.