GRADE I, $400,000 GAMELY STAKES

JOCKEY QUOTES

TIAGO PEREIRA, MACADAMIA, WINNER: “Last time out, my horse was really aggressive and a little green. I’ve been working her and getting her to relax more and today she was really relaxed and on her game. I saw everyone in front of us and I was going to follow the 3 (Queen Goddess) until the three eighths pole. She’s a really good filly. When it was time to go, she responded very well. I’m thankful for these great opportunities and I continue to work very hard.”

TRAINER QUOTES

PHIL D’AMATO, MACADAMIA, WINNER: “It’s a great feeling. She is a nice filly. I have to give Tiago a lot of credit for just getting on her every week just breezing her and developing her. She was a quirky kind of backwards filly when we got her. She just needed to acclimate to North America. She’s taken her time and now she is a Grade I winner.

“(Tiago) is a great hand, a great horseman. When he first came here we won a lot of graded stakes together. We kind of went our own separate ways, I don’t know for what reason, but he’s come back with a fury. He has a great attitude in the morning and I think it translates to the horses.”

NOTES: The winning owner is R Unicorn Stable.