GRADE I, $300,000 AMERICAN PHAROAH STAKES QUOTES

JOCKEY QUOTES

JUAN HERNANDEZ, CAVE ROCK, WINNER: “He broke really good, very nice. At first, he was kind of looking around a little bit around the turn, when he got the lead, he was all game and after that he started improving his pace and he just kept going. I just let him run because that’s the way he runs. I didn’t want to move too soon. I felt the pressure, but I just let my horse get comfortable, and I could feel when the company started to get a closer, he started to pick it up himself, so I was happy with that. At the quarter pole he just changed leads and he just kept going again.”

TRAINER QUOTES

BOB BAFFERT, CAVE ROCK, WINNER: “I can’t remember running one, two, three, four, ever. The really good ones come around quicky and he’s always been different, he’s built a bit different than Arrogate (who sired two other winners in the afternoon.) he’s powerful, stronger and he’s quick. He runs with his head sort of low like Arrogate. He just keeps improving, he trains easily. I really don’t work him too fast, you have to count on their talent to get them there. Today those were some good horses behind him. Those colts, you are going to hear about them down the road. Right now, he’s what you need, he’s something that is right now and something that will be in for the next thirty days. “The (partnership) is a fun group.. they have Speed Boat Beach and now this horse who are going to the Breeders’ Cup. This horse had to run to get to the Breeders’ Cup.”

OWNER QUOTES

MIKE PEGRAM, CAVE ROCK, WINNER: “He’s the real real deal. The first time I saw him was in Del Mar. Bob (Baffert) bought him. You look at him now, he’s everything a guy would want. He’s won two Grade 1’s. We’ll take it. It’s been a great 10 weeks and hopefully more fun to come in the springtime. We’ll find out what he’s made of four weeks from now if everything is okay.”

NOTES: The winning owners are Michael Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman.