JOCKEY QUOTES
DRAYDEN VAN DYKE, FAST DRAW MUNNINGS, WINNER: “The main thing was to get a good break and hopefully (Straight Up G and Highland Ghost) battle like they did, and just sit off of them and bide my time. That was exactly how it played out and we got lucky with the win. I knew it was going to be a good battle because he kicked on (Straight Up G), when I asked my horse to go, but my horse dug in. I’ve always loved this horse, he’s kind of a hardheaded horse, he doesn’t give you all that he has but he showed what he could do today and I’m proud of him. Thanks to Jeff and the owners as well.”
TRAINER QUOTES
JEFF MULLINS, FAST DRAW MUNNINGS, WINNER: “The main thing was hoping somebody went with the favorite, I mean that horse got away with an easy lead last time, and we thought that if somebody goes with him, I told Drayden to make sure he gets a good jump out of there and be right off their heels. It worked out, the one horse went with the favorite and I think kind of softened him up and gave us an opportunity to get by.
“It’s kind of a waiting game most of the time so, we will just enjoy the moment now and see what comes up for him. Obviously, he’s pretty versatile, I think he can go one turn, two turns and he may even like the turf. With these kind of Cal-breds you have to jump wherever you can and I think he’s proved that he can.”
OWNER QUOTES
MARK COHEN, OWNER, FAST DRAW MUNNINGS, WINNER: “It is a thrill. We didn’t expect to win today, but my dad has always really liked this horse. He thought he would be a special kind of horse, in particular as a Cal-bred.
“Our family has been in racing in California for about 60 years. My father’s first trainer was Riley Cofer, and he was with Riley for a long time. They looked like brothers. My grandfather took him to the racetrack when he was a kid, and he has been in love with it ever since. You’ve never seen a guy get as excited winning a claiming race as he does winning a stake race.”
NOTES: The winning owners are Red Barron’s Barn, LLC and Rancho Temescal, LLC.
