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

Ben Curtis (winning rider of Normandy Coast)

“It worked out perfect (to move to the inside at the top of the stretch) – we went on to win. The horse in front (Long Neck Paula) was just getting out a little bit off the rail, and I knew (my horse) stayed very well, so I knew stamina wasn’t going to be a problem. So when the opportunity presented itself, I said, ‘Perfect, we’ll take the shortest way around,’ and he went to the front and kept going. That’s all you can ask of him.”

On recording his first Keeneland stakes win
“It’s brilliant. I’ve only ever been here once, for one day, so to start the meet out like this, and also for (trainer) Eddie (Kenneally) as well – I’ve known Eddie for years. It’s great that he’s put me up on a lot of horses and I’ve had a good few winners, but I think this is the biggest of them, so yeah, absolutely fantastic.”

Eddie Kenneally (winning trainer)

“Absolutely (a special moment to have jockey Ben Curtis aboard for his first Keeneland stakes win). This is a nice, nice horse. We were actually praying for rain this week, so that happened for us. We wanted to run him on the dirt here, and it worked out perfectly. He got a beautiful ride. Very happy.”

On plans for future races
“We tried the mile last time in New York (when he finished last after a stumbled start in the March 1 Gotham-G3). He probably doesn’t stay that far. I think we’ll be looking at the rest of the sprint dirt 3-year-old stakes going forward for the spring and summer.”

Joe Ramos (rider of third-place finisher Killjoy)

“I think it went pretty good. We were hoping to get the lead, but a couple of horses on my inside broke pretty good, so I had to sit and wait for my moment to let him go.”