$415,000 COOLMORE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH (G2) QUOTES

Winning Time: 1:43.12
Winning Margins: neck, 2 ½, neck
Winning Payoff: $8.40
Fractions: :23.12, :47.07, 1:10.68, 1:36.43
Order of finish: Sovereignty, River Thames, Neoequos, Burnham Square, Gate to Wire, Keep It Easy
Scratches: McKellen, Solid Left

Winning trainer Bill Mott (Sovereignty): “It was a great run. He had a good trip. We had a good post inside, saved some ground on the first turn. Fortunately we didn’t get an outside post and have to be wide on the first turn. He saved some ground, he was able to tip out, and he’s got some acceleration.”

“We got one under our belt and now we get with the team and see where we go. I guess it’s a good thing that we’ve shown that we can run over the track. Naturally, [the Florida Derby] is on the list of things to be considered very strongly.”

Winning jockey Junior Alvarado (Sovereignty): “I was just trying to give him a good race. We’ve been running second and third and I wanted to make sure he could finish. At the three-eighths pole I found myself trying to save ground but I don’t think the inside’s the best place to be so I thought, let me lose a little ground here and put him on the outside. I was already a little bit riding him and when I put him in the clear, it seemed like everything came back to his head and he turned it on. After that it was like, ‘I hope we get there in time,’ and he did. He kept grinding his way there. He’s such a nice horse.”

“When I saw him in the paddock I thought he looked like a man among kids. He was very, very, very good. Billy Mott always brings the horses here beautiful. I was just a little bit worried about the break that he had. He was still a baby back then and I knew he was still probably learning. I think today he was a little more [aware] of what’s happening. I just think he outclassed these horses.”

Trainer Todd Pletcher (River Thames, 2nd; Gate to Wire, 5th): “[River Thames] kind of got to looking around a little bit late. [Jockey] Johnny [Velazquez] said he was looking at the screen and just got a little bit complacent on the lead. He showed that he’s still maturing.”

“We actually got a perfect trip, stalking the horse that we thought would show speed. We were able to put him away and it looked like he was maybe home and I think he got a little complacent. The winner ran a very good race.”

“He’s had three races in seven weeks, so we’ll let the dust settle and come up with a plan.”

“[Gate to Wire] got a good trip, the trip we were hoping for. It looked like he started backing up a little bit at the three-eighths pole and then he kind of re-rallied a little bit, and just flattned out a little bit the last part.”

Jockey John Velazquez (River Thames, 2nd): “It was a good trip. I was where I wanted to be. He acted up a little bit today, kind of getting away from the horses, shying away. I had to ride him early on the turn. He passed the other horse and kind of stopped and got nailed.”

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. (Neoequos, 3rd): “I thought he ran well. I thought he was a winner at the three-furlong pole, he just didn’t say. He’s a good horse and he proved it today. We’ll probably cut him back to one turn.”

“[Jockey] Irad [Ortiz Jr.] was aggressive and I was happy with that move. At the three-eighths pole I thought he was a winner. I thought we had [River Thames] put away for sure. Obviously, I could see [Sovereignty] making a move and my horse didn’t stay enough but he ran third. I’m proud of him.”

Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. (Neoequos, 3rd): “I knew he was going to be in front. I tried to slow him down as much as I could. I tried to relax him. Don't fight too much with him. And then he felt that horse outside of him at the five-eighths pole. He jumped on the bridle. But it was time to go, and he kept fighting. He was third today, first time going two turns.”

Jockey Edgard Zayas (Burnham Square, 4th): “He didn't break that good, like always. Last time [in the Holy Bull], he made a nice move on the backstretch. But today he wasn't there. He's just still learning. It looked like in the turn he was going nowhere. But all of a sudden when I got him back to the outside, he really picked it up again. At the end he just got beat by two lengths, I think. He didn't get beat by much. I thought, wow, if he had given me this from the turn going into the stretch … He definitely needs more distance and a longer stretch. Last time it was probably a weaker field. But he's going to keep improving.”