GRADE II, $200,000 CHARLES WHITTINGHAM STAKES QUOTES

JOCKEY QUOTES

KYLE FREY, GOLD PHOENIX, WINNER: “Luckily, we got out good and sat behind the leader. He tipped out a little, then tipped back in. So it kind of worked out good because that outside horse was moving with him. The rest is history. This means everything to me. Especially with my family here. God has really taken me a long way and I’m just grateful and eager to see what else is in store. When I rode him for the first time, he was pretty green and was trying to figure stuff out. He had kind of given me a slow break one time and the  connections were a little upset by that, but since then, he has done it with several other guys. He just has his off days where he jus kind of clunks down and you have to be ready for it. Today I was ready for it. He broke good and I wanted to make sure I got him on his toes and I tried to keep his attention. I knew I had Victor  and (Rockemperor) inside and behind me and I had to kind of hold him off, because he looked like he had enough to get up and get going in there. I timed it out and I used everything I had that last eighth. I was really just able to hang on. It was pretty darn close there.”

TRAINER QUOTES

RUDY CRUZ, ASSISTANT TO, PHIL D’AMATO, GOLD PHOENIX, WINNER: “The owners and the trainers made the difference with this horse. When this horse first came we had to take a lot of time with him because he wasn’t right. So Phil gave him enough time and he is showing it every single race he runs he gives his heart out. I’m so happy for him.”

OWNER QUOTES

GARY FENTON, LITTLE RED FEATHER RACING, WINNER: “As owners you learn patience in this game and the love of this game. The love and the trust that you give Rudy, Phil and the whole team, you don’t have the patience without the trust. Phil and his team just did a masterful job of getting him ready. The prep race didn’t go exactly as we had hoped, but Phil promised that the real Gold Phoenix would show up today and not only did he, but we had a lot of decisions to make in this race on where to put Gold Phoenix. It didn’t look like there was a lot of speed and Phil convinced us that the horse could be a little closer than normal. If the speed wasn’t there, we would kind of let Kyle dictate what happens during the race and man. Phil’s instructions and Kyle’s ride it was just perfection. I think the team needs to discuss if we should go into the Royal Ascot and just stick around England for a couple of weeks and have a nice start to the summer.”

NOTES: The winning owner is Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables, LLC and Marsha Naify. Phil D’Amato was at Churchill Downs where he saddled 7th place finisher Stronghold in the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby.