Fly to Mars © Benoit Photo

FLAVIEN PRAT (Fly to Mars, winner) – “It was take the break and take a look. We got a good spot right away; good trip all the way around. When he switched leads for me at the head of the stretch, he really gave me a great turn of foot. He fired.”

MIKE SMITH (Grecian Fire, second) – “He (Grecian Fire) was coming at him (Fly to Mars) at the finish. They had to set a track record to beat me.” 

MARIO GUTIERREZ (B Squared, third) – “I had a perfect trip. He ran hard all the way. The winner ran really fast.”

 PETER MILLER (Fly to Mars, winner) – “Wow. Unbelievable. I’m shocked. The horse has really gotten good in the past two months, since we took the blinkers off and have been getting him to relax. I’ve got to say Flavien (Prat) rode an unbelievable race. The pace was good, but it wasn’t crazy and he really kicked home. To set a track record here is something. I thought he could win the race. To break the track record? That’s something you never think about.”

FRACTIONS:  :22.86 :46.12  1:10.16  1:33.52  1:39.50  (Course record)

(The previous course record was 1:39.52 set by Sidney’s Candy in 2010.

The stakes win was the first of the meet and the first in the California Dreamin’ Stakes by rider Prat. He now has 24 stakes wins at Del Mar.

The stakes win was the second of the meet, but first in the California Dreamin’ Stakes for trainer Miller.

The winning owner is Gary Barber of Los Angeles, CA.