JOCKEY QUOTES

KENT DESORMEAUX, CIAO BELLA LUNA, WINNER: “That went completely opposite of what I thought. I thought we would be way back (early.) She broke horrible her last out so the only thing I did differently was I asked her to leave there (the gate) better. She carried me the rest of the way. She was in the bridle, just really floating along.

“The horse that was second (Marks Mine) jumped over the dirt and stumbled pretty good and I pitched a half (length) on them in a second. That might have been the winning move. I got that neck in front and when I asked her, we just took off. We really came home; it was quick for the hill.”

In response to if he will be staying in Southern California to continue riding:

“I get one more like that and I think the writing is on the wall.”

FRANK ALVARADO, MARKS MINE, SECOND: “When my filly crossed the dirt, she jumped. I thought I would have been there, I think her jumping cost us the race. It’s a beautiful day to be here though!”

RAFAEL BEJARANO, UNUSUAL HOTTIE, 3-1 FAVORITE, FOURTH: “She broke good. I was in good position. She never got into the beat. She was lazy and she didn’t want to run. I tried to put her in the race, but she wasn’t coming, so I tried to do my best. I think she needed two turns. It was the distance. It was too short for her. Better races for her are a mile, a mile-and-a sixteenth. She’ll be better at distance.”

TRAINER QUOTES

PETER MILLER, CIAO BELLA LUNA, WINNER: “We bought her to be a synthetic horse and we thought maybe the turf (would suit her). She ran well last time when we prepped her in the Monrovia. This was the logical spot to come back and she ran super. Kent (Desormeaux) rode her great.”

STEVEN SPECHT, MARKS MINE, SECOND: “She ran her heart out and just got beat a drop on the wire. I honestly believe that if you watch when she comes on to the main track she made a leap that might have cost her a head. She ran good and I’m satisfied. The jockey rode her good but every now and then you get beat in this business.”

NOTES: The winning owners are Pamela Burkhardt and Gary Hartunian of Sherman Oaks, who race as Rockingham Ranch.