(Slay the Day wins the G3 Limestone Stakes at Keeneland on Friday / Photo by Coady Media)

Quotes from the $350,000 FanDuel Limestone (G3) at Keeneland

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

Brian Lynch (winning trainer of Slay the Day)

“The way she ran the first time on the grass (winning an allowance race on the turf last out at Gulfstream Park March 6), she obviously found her surface. Then you’ve got a rider like (jockey) Johnny (Velazquez), who can handle that sort of stuff under pressure. She left there running and got herself in a good spot. She touted herself all week, that she was doing well, and when we saddled her she never turned a hair. She took everything in her stride here. We’re just so thrilled that she’s doing what she’s doing and she’s found her surface. She’s a beautifully bred filly and now she’s a Grade 3 winner.”

John Velazquez (winning rider)

“She was going awesome the whole way around. She broke really well. I was expecting a little more speed, that somebody would go. I was right next to (pacesetter) Cy Fair, right next to her. I took a nice hold of (Slay the Day) and then at the quarter pole I made sure I kept a little pressure on the horse in front. Down the lane when she responded, she responded very quickly. Very nice. Thank you to (trainer Brian Lynch); he got her ready for me.”

Hunter Rankin (of winning owner Flying Dutchmen)

“It’s always special to win here (at Keeneland). It’s such a special place, and anytime you have a horse in a stakes race here it’s a big deal. We were obviously excited to be competing, and we thought she would run really well today. She obviously made us really happy.”

Payton Boersma (son of Flying Dutchmen owner Travis Boersma)

“(Her name is) Dutch Bros (Coffee) slogan, and “slay the day” just means to take advantage and totally conquer the day. She did that today. Gosh, it feels so good, so good (to get the graded win). She was doing it against some of the best fillies in the country. Those fillies, they’re really tough. She proved how nice she is today.”

Jose Ortiz (rider of runner-up Sapphire Beach-IRE)

“My horse ran very, very good. We had a beautiful trip. Saved ground on the turn. The winner was good today. I was very proud of the effort.”

Rusty Arnold (trainer of Sapphire Beach)

“Ran really good. Can’t complain except that we ran second. I’m very happy with her. She laid it on the line today.”

Irad Ortiz Jr. (rider of favorite and third-place finisher Cy Fair)

“She’ll outbreak everyone (at the starting gate). She was running a while, so I tried to slow her down. The winner is a nice filly. My filly was running down the lane. We just got beat today.”

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Since its first race meet 90  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. On Oct. 30-31, Keeneland will host the Breeders’ Cup World Championships 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.