JOCKEY QUOTES

VICTOR ESPINOZA, SPELLBOUND, WINNER: “I knew they were going fast on the front end but I just wanted to focus on my own filly. I wanted her to be happy and I wanted to enjoy the ride. I knew they were going fast so I didn’t want to get too far back (either) but sometimes that’s just the way she runs. I don’t want to forcer her to do anything she doesn’t want to do. She was doing it comfortably so I didn’t do much.

“Turning for home I knew we had a lot of ground to make up . . . and the wire was getting closer and closer. But then she started running at her high speed.

“I think dirt is better for her. She’s so big, so I think she’s much better on the dirt rather than the synthetic.”

MIKE SMITH, FIFTYSHADESOFHAY, 6-5 FAVORITE, FOURTH: Asked about the slow start: “It cost me the race, but we probably caused our own trouble, to be honest with you. She needs to stand a little better in there.”

TRAINER QUOTES

RICHARD MANDELLA, SPELLBOUND, WINNER: “I’d say that (she likes this dirt course). She came here and won a couple and then I gave her a break and took her to Hollywood. She didn’t run good on the synthetic over there, and I think she’s just a real dirt horse.

Asked his thoughts when she was last after six furlongs: “I did like the (fast) pace. I was cussing him (Victor Espinoza) on the backside: ‘What is he doing so far back?’ Just kidding. She’s always been a talented filly, but was a little backwards early, in her first races, rough in the gate, just not doing things right. Just little by little, she’s come around. She trained really well for this race, the allowance race didn’t go, so we went here.”

JERRY HOLLENDORFER, LET FAITH ARISE, SECOND: When asked if the pace scenario surprised him at all: “No. Not at all.”

NOTES: The winning owners are Ramona Bass of Fort Worth, Texas; A.B. Hancock Jr. (Claiborne Farm) of Paris, Ky.; and Adele Dilschneider of St. Louis.