GRADE I, $400,000 THE HOLLYWOOD GOLD CUP

JOCKEY QUOTES

JUAN HERNANDEZ, DEFUNDED, WINNER : “Today he was very professional. He broke really comfortably. He pulling me on the back side, which is a really good sign. I waited until the last quarter and he switched leads and gave me two good jumps toward the wire. He really didn’t get tired. In the Santa Anita Handicap, they put pressure on us and the fractions were faster. It was a different story today. Piroli is a nice horse. I’ve ridden him before. He likes to go outside, but I had a lot of confidence in my horse for the final push to the wire. This is the first time I have won two Grade I’s in one day. I dream of these big races. They are coming to me thanks to my agent Craig O’Bryan.”

TRAINER QUOTES

BOB BAFFERT, DEFUNDED, WINNER: “I would have like to seen Country Grammer second and run 1-2 but Defunded is a tough horse. This horse today he got the lead and he wasn’t going to let anybody pass him. He is just improving and getting better. I was happy to see him get a mile and a quarter.”

KARL WATSON, DEFUNDED, WINNER: “It is fantastic. Defunded has won two Grade I’s now, it is just unbelievable, this is great.”

MIKE PEGRAM, DEFUNDED, WINNER: It is a tough game, so when you win you never apologize and this horse is getting good so we are going to enjoy it.”

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