Quotes

I was a little bit worried (with the delay at the gate); some of the colts were acting up, but then they got them in there. He broke good even though he had been standing in there awhile, then Drayden (Van Dyke) got this colt to relax and he did his thing. I think it is an improvement (over his debut race) in that he did it so much easier. We’ll look at the Futurity for him, for sure.”

JERRY HOLLENDORFER, Instagrand, winner

He tried. That’s all I can say – he tried.”

KENT DESORMEAUX, Synthesis, third

He beat ‘em all, but one. Don’t even ask me if I could see the winner.”

GARY STEVENS, Sparky Ville, second

I haven’t been getting on him in the morning (since he rode him to victory in his first start on June 29 at Los Alamitos). But they told me he was ready. Oh, yeah. I just threw a couple of crosses at him today; that’s all. Cadillac. I wanted to see if he’d change leads on his own, but in the end I just gave it a little weight shift (to the inside) and he made a perfect change.  He’s got the mind of a 4- or 5-year-old. Professional.”

DRAYDEN VAN DYKE, Instagrand, winner

He just got a little outpaced,” said Bandua’s rider William Buick. “Had a lovely run through the race. The front two just kind of kicked clear of me and he was just getting his rhythm going. He’s a nice horse and he’s one that’s going to keep improving, as well.”

William Buick, Rider of third-place finisher Bandua