__$100,000, BAFFLE STAKES QUOTES __

JOCKEY QUOTES

UMBERTO RISPOLI, JOHANNES, WINNER: “I’ve had three wins out of four rides in the Baffle. When I first came here (2020) the hill was closed, so we ran out of the chute at five and a half, and I won a year ago with Maglev, at six and a half, now this time at six and a half down the hill, the Baffle is my race. I wish it will be a Grade I one day.

“I was on the rail, trying to follow Johnny (Velazquez, aboard Wizard of Westwood) and honestly, I didn’t have anywhere to go. As we got to cross the dirt, Flavien (Prat, aboard Malibu Coast) and I go for the same gap and then Johnny’s horse moved…I just restrained my mount, and I went for a gap opening and the horse did the rest.”

TRAINER QUOTES

TIM YAKTEEN, JOHANNES, WINNER: “The way he ran today is very encouraging. He rated, you know, he’s been a very fast horse in the morning, but along with that, he’s shown us a turn of foot. Until you run them down the hill or around two turns, you don’t really know, but the way he did it today, like I say, is very encouraging.

“I left it up to Umberto. The race was loaded with speed, obviously it wasn’t the cleanest of trips, but he got the job done. He is a super gifted horse, I’m just so happy for Debbie McCloskey and Joe they bred the horse and they have been great supporters of mine. We are looking forward to running him again. These horses are the horses why you come to the barn in the morning.

“In my trophy cabinet, I haven’t built one yet, so I need to get one.”

OWNER QUOTES

DEBBIE McCLOSKEY, JOHANNES, WINNER: “We love the mother, and we love this one. We love all our horses, but we are very pleased with this one.”

NOTES: The winning owner/breeder is Cuyathy, LLC.