Grade 3 $250,000 Illinois Derby
Hawthorne, April 22
James Graham (jockey, Multiplier, 1st)
“Turning for home I was pretty sure we were going to get there. For a moment when [jockey] Jose’s [Valdiva, Jr.] horse [Hedge Fund] spurted away, he kind of caught my horse flat but Multiplier went right after him all the way to the wire and got up by maybe a neck.”
“He might have settled a bit too well. He’s kind of lazy. But he has a great career ahead of him. Have you seen him? He’s gorgeous. All kidding aside, he’s a beautiful horse and [trainer] Brendan [Walsh] has done a great job with him. I’m just happy to be a part of this.”
$125,000 Federico Tesio Stakes
Laurel Park, April 22
Chad Brown
Chad Brown (trainer, Twisted Tom, 1st)
“He ran terrific and [jockey] Feargal [Lynch] really rode him well once again. They’re a great team, those two. The horse showed a lot of heart again. He’s a long-winded, hard-trying horse that obviously showed he has a tremendous amount of stamina and will to win. He’s a horse that continually is improving, which we love to see. We’re just really proud of his effort today.”
“He showed a new dimension today, and dealing with an off track he handled it fine. Feargal deserves a lot of credit for using good judgment in keeping him out of trouble. He’s a big horse and although he was losing some ground he picked a good spot to let him relax and find his rhythm. When that horse came to him on the outside, he showed his heart.”
“Because he’s not [Triple Crown] nominated it certainly complicates things, so I’ll speak to the ownership group. Right now we’ll just enjoy this win. We’ll see how the horse comes out of the race physically and then we’ll all probably speak about it next week sometime and come up with a plan.”
Feargal Lynch (jockey, Twisted Tom, 1st)
“He broke sharper today. I just got into a nice rhythm all the way. I thought O Dionysus might struggle to stay and I knew from my horse’s gallop-out last time that he would like the distance. Today he had no kickback and a small field. He’s a turfer and a mudder and a very adaptable, huge horse who should get better.”
Gary Capuano (trainer, O Dionysus, 2nd)
“I’m not sure whether he’s just hanging or waiting on horses. I guess I’m going to have to change some things around. He runs, but when he gets to them and he gets his head in front it’s like he either waits for horses or he’s hanging. I’m not sure. He runs, but he’s not winning. He cruised up there and turning for home it looks like he’s got horse and he’s just going to go on, and he either hangs or flattens out. But, he tries. He’s running.”
