Motorious Returns A Winner In Saturday’s Grade III Daytona Stakes Sprinting About 6 ½ Furlongs On The Hillside Turf Course

GRADE III, $100,000 DAYTONA STAKES QUOTES

JOCKEY QUOTES

ANTONIO FRESU, MOTORIOUS, WINNER: “Somehow it was a good thing, the horse was coming back off a layoff and I didn’t think the horse was 100 percent fit, so going slow the first part of the race helped to show his turn of foot at the end. He was traveling beautifully all the way and getting more comfortable. When I pulled him out after the (dirt) crossing it was just impressive. I just have to say thank you to Phil and Tony Fanticola, who gave me the opportunity to ride this horse. We have been having such good fun since last year. I thought the horse in the last couple of works was doing fantastic.. He was good enough to go for this race. I mean he was just phenomenal today.”

TRAINER QUOTES

PHIL D’AMATO, MOTORIOUS, WINNER: “ I liked his explosiveness today. Once he changed leads, he blew past those horses and finished with interest. That was a much more impressive effort than I thought he’d give me first out so we’re looking forward to Del Mar. “I thought Mike Smith might have stolen it when they crossed the dirt. I didn’t know if we had enough to pace to run into, but it didn’t matter.”

OWNER QUOTES

ANTHONY FANTICOLA, MOTORIOUS, WINNER:“That is his race. That is the way he runs. Phil D’Amato and Antonio got him ready. He’s been working him out every morning. Phil told me he wanted to get the rust off, and what a great way to get the rust off. He won it very nicely. Old guys sometimes work out better when they get older. He’s got a full career to look forward to. He hasn’t run since December but it looks like he is back. He runs fresh also.”

NOTES: The winning owner is Anthony Fanticola.