From the Keeneland Media Team / Amy Owens:

Quotes from the $400,000 Castle & Key Bourbon (G2) at Keeneland

Click here for a replay of the race and the post-race interview with winning connections.

Irad Ortiz Jr. (winning rider of Final Score)

“He showed speed before but not this kind of speed. I thought it was a little more speed than he would have in the race. I thought we were going to be right behind the speed, but he broke so good and put me in a good position without asking too much. I had talked to the trainer (Todd Pletcher) and he said, ‘If he’s on the lead, fine; let him go.’

“He went a little faster than I wanted, but he got the job done. He deserves a lot of credit. He was a little aggressive going into the first turn, but on the backside he switched off really nice. After that, I just bided my time turning for home. Then when we were in the straight, I asked him to go and he gave me a good turn of foot.”

Tyler Gaffalione (rider of runner-up Turf Star)

“Everything went to plan. I just had to sit in there a little bit longer than I’d like to. Irad (Ortiz Jr. on eventual winner Final Score) was riding really patient. He gave me a really good run down the lane, then as soon as we got out, he found another stride and really extended himself well. I thought it was a great effort.”

Cristian Torres (rider of third-place finisher Gordon Pass)

“The horse ran great. I saved all the ground I wanted. The plan was, I talked to (trainer) Will (Walden), and the plan was just to save as much as possible. He’s a horse that is still learning. He’s run twice, just in Indiana, so first time running against a lot better horses. Our plan was to break, let him sit, relax and make a run at the ending. He responded. He finished up real nice.”

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Since its first race meet 89 years ago, the Keeneland Association has devoted itself to the health and vibrancy of the Thoroughbred industry. The world’s largest Thoroughbred auction house, Keeneland conducts five on-site sales a year, in January, April, September and November. Graduates of Keeneland sales dominate racing across the globe at every level. In April and October, Keeneland offers some of the highest caliber and richest Thoroughbred racing in the world. Keeneland will host the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in 2026 for the fourth time, following 2015, 2020 and 2022. Uniquely structured, Keeneland is a privately held company with a not-for-profit mission that returns its earnings to the industry and the community in the form of higher purses and millions of dollars donated in support of horse industry initiatives and charitable contributions for education, research, and health and human services throughout Central Kentucky. Keeneland also maintains Keeneland Library, a world-renowned public research institution with the mission of preserving information about the Thoroughbred industry. To learn more, visit Keeneland.com.

For more information email Keeneland Communications Associate Amy Owens at aowens@keeneland.com