LAS VIRGENES STAKES QUOTES

JOCKEY QUOTE

JOEL ROSARIO, ZAZU, WINNER: “I saw I was going to have a clean trip inside, and I took it. She’s a nice filly. Last time I rode her she finished second to another nice filly (California Nectar) at seven furlongs. Today she showed me a little more and we took it from there. John (Sadler) told me to lie in the saddle and come with one late run. Same thing we always do with nice horses like her.”

TRAINER QUOTES

JOHN SADLER, ZAZU, WINNER: “She was second to that other mare (cq, Turbulent Descent) at Hollywood, in the Moccasin Nov. 21), and what I liked about today’s race, even though you’re so scared to say what you think might happen, because it never does, but it looked like there were three or four that wanted the front, and when I saw we had a lot of pace in front of her, I thought that would really help her today. She has a short run and she wants to close, and some of the other races, it hasn’t played that way for her. So there was a fast pace in front (of her) and that’s what we were hoping for.”

Asked if the Santa Anita Oaks (Grade I, $250,000, 1 1/16 miles on March 5) would be next: “Absolutely.”

MIKE PUYPE, TURBULENT DESCENT, 2-5 FAVORITE, SECOND: “She probably got a little tired. She hasn’t run in eight weeks. She ran good. She got outrun by the Mosses (Zazu). It was a good race. She just got outrun today.”

NOTES: Winning owners Jerry and Ann Moss are from Beverly Hills.

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