GRADE I, $300,000 AWESOME AGAIN STAKES QUOTES

JOCKEY QUOTES

EDWIN MALDONADO, DEFUNDED, WINNER: “It was a very nice trip. Bob told me I had a great shot in this race so put him on the lead. And when Bob says you have a shot, you have a shot. I just want to thank Bob and all the connections for the opportunity, I’m grateful to be here. At the point of my career right now, I was due for a big race. It came through. What better time than the second day in Santa Anita? A good time.”

TRAINER QUOTES

BOB BAFFERT, DEFUNDED, WINNER: “I’m proud. Defunded ran so well here before and when we got to Del Mar, he just had a melt down in the Paddock and didn’t behave himself. Today he was perfect. They all loaded in the gate perfect, and I give Edwin a lot of the credit he is such a great speed rider. I told him I’d throw him a nice horse when we got up here and he rode a perfect race.”

NOTES: This was Edwin Maldonado’s first Grade I win. The winning owners are Michael Pegram, Karl Watson or Paul Weitman.