GRADE III, $100,000, THUNDER ROAD STAKES QUOTES

JOCKEY QUOTES

FLAVIEN PRAT, EARLS ROCK, WINNER: “I’ve been waiting for this win. I feel very happy for Phil and Mr. Fanticola, they’ve been great supporters of mine, and I was able to run a good race today. He’s always a bit keen, last time there was no pace, so I struggled a bit to relax him. Today we had a fair pace, and he relaxed well, I was traveling super and when I asked him, he showed me a good turn of foot.”

TRAINER QUOTES

PHIL D’AMATO, EARLS ROCK, WINNER: “They were all confident, I was like, ‘We have to watch this photo, that two (Du Jour) was coming on strong.’ Luckily we got the bob and it’s great to train for Tony Fanticola who gave me my first start, my Breeders’ Cup win with Obviously and Flavien riding that horse and now to win a stake with this horse. Jessica (Pyfer) rides and breezes him for us in the morning, so it was just a great family win here.

“His gallop out (in his last work) was so strong, Jesse’s eyes lit up when she pulled him up in the drill and took him to the track. She just said that was spectacular and time wise it was great. This was a step up for him and he proved that he can compete with stakes company.

“That was a Prat ride there, splitting horses and getting up on the wire that’s what Flavien Prat does.”

NOTES: The winning owner is Anthony Fanticola.