RAFAEL BEJARANO (Bowies Hero, winner) – “The race came up just the way I hoped. I loved my position. On the turn, I swung him out and asked him and he responded. Really good run for him. I heard that other horse (Big Score, who finished second) coming after me, but my horse still had something left. I asked him for more and he gave it to me.”

FLAVIEN PRAT (Big Score, second) – “It was a good trip for me. My horse made a big move on the turn and I thought I was going to get him (Bowies Hero). But the winner just didn’t quit.”

KENT DESORMEAUX (Billy Big, third) – “No problems at all on the trip. He gave me his best.”

PHIL D’AMATO  (Bowies Hero, winner) – “I’ve got to give a lot of credit to Jeff and Kathleen Hebert and Mark Martinez for pulling the trigger and buying him. When I saw the video of this horse when he broke his maiden at Lone Star, I wanted this horse in the worst way and it all worked out. I thought there would be a lot of speed in the race and I told Raf (Rafael Bejarano) to ride him like he was the best horse. He trains like an old horse and does everything right, so I had a lot of confidence.  He had him nicely in mid pack and pulled the trigger at the right time. We’ll take him on to Santa Anita for the Zuma Beach.”

 

 

FRACTIONS:  :22.51  :46.95  1:11.91  1:24.49  1:36.40

 

The stakes win was the sixth of the meet for jockey Bejarano (the most of any rider at the session), but his first in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf. He now has 54 stakes victories at Del Mar, which ties him for 12th best all time.

 

The stakes win was the fifth of the meet for trainer D’Amato (the most by any trainer at the session), but his first in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf. He now has 12 stakes wins at Del Mar.