From Breeders' Cup Notes Team

Winning trainer John Sadler (Accelerate) – "He ran a great race and Joel (Rosario) rode him perfectly. We were really thrilled. He did such a good job, kept him clear.

"We thought that post might be a bonus on the outside. He never got in trouble and never had anything in front of him. He just stayed
a little wide and won the race.”

Winning jockey Joel Rosario (Accelerate) – “That was about as good as it gets. That horse is simply unbelievable. I’m so happy for the owners and John. It was a great performance. He has so much heart."

Second-place trainer Antonio Sano (Gunnevera) – “I'm so happy for this horse. He ran second and had lost a couple lengths at the start. They sandwiched my horse. Every time we are closer and closer to winning a Grade 1. He's going to race in 2019 and will point to the Pegasus.”

Second-place jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. (Gunnevera) – “I had a good trip. I never had to check. I just got beat by a nice horse. My horse ran huge.”

Third-place trainer Saeed bin Suroor (Thunder Snow)  – “He's run a really big race. I'm very pleased with that. The winner is a very good horse. This race is special as it brings together the best horses in the world. We have better horses this year and we've had a better season. He could go to the Dubai World Cup again.”

Third-place jockey Christophe Soumillon (Thunder Snow) – “Great job. I was trying to stay in behind Ryan Moore and he ran on really well. It was a great ride.”

Fourth-place trainer Bill Mott (Yoshida) – “I thought he ran his butt of and ran a super race. The plan is, right now, to keep him in training (in 2019).” 

Fourth-place jockey Jose Ortiz (Yoshida) — “I didn't want to be as far back early as I was but I felt in the first quarter of a mile that they were running away from me. I felt like they were going very fast and I didn't want to rush him too early. I saw Gunnevera inside of me and I used him as a target and he took me to the three-eighths pole. I thought I was going to win the race when I was in the clear at the quarter pole but then I saw Gunnevera came back and beat me. It took him a while to get going but when he did, he got rolling.”

Trainer Aiden O'Brien (Mendelssohn, fifth) – “He ran a great race so we're delighted with him. We did our best, but weren't quite good enough.”

Trainer Tom Amoss (Lone Sailor, sixth) – “I'm really proud of Lone Sailor's performance today. He's just a 3-year-old and that was a big, big effort. I'm very, very excited about his 4-year-old year. We'll talk to the owner and make some decisions, but that was a big race for a young horse and I think he's going to be a very good 4-year-old.” 

Jockey James Graham (Lone Sailor, sixth) — “He needed to break a little better. He gets to be a big baby in there sometimes too. He ran a good race. I was running late, just couldn't get back to them.”

Trainer Bob Baffert (West Coast, seventh & McKenzie, 12^th) – “They looked good for about a mile. They just tired and they just didn't have it today. (McKinzie) is lightly raced and playing catch-up. I thought West Coast would run a little better than that. Accelerate is a good horse and he was the best horse.”

Jockey John Velazquez (West Coast, seventh) – “He was in perfect position and right where we thought he was going to be. When Accelarate went by me at the three-eighths pole, I had nothing. He didn't stop but he didn't run on.”

Trainer Uriah St. Lewis (Discreet Lover, eighth) – “It has been a great experience and I am happy we came.” 

Jockey Manny Franco (Discreet Lover, eighth) – “I was riding him like he likes to be ridden – near the back. When I came to the half-mile pole, I was looking for something from him and he didn't do anything.”

Mario Gutierrez (Pavel, 10th) – “He was looking good most of the race. At the quarter pole, the two Baffert horses just started stopping. I had to check big time and lost all my momentum. Until then the horse was with me all the way.”

Trainer Chad Summers (Mind Your Biscuits, 11^th) – “It was not our day. Congrats to Joel, John Sadler and Accelerate.”

Jockey Tyler Gaffalione (Mind Your Biscuits, 11^th) – “He had good position, but he had trouble getting his feet under him and he never picked it up.”

Jockey Mike Smith (McKenzie, 12^th) – “I'm at a loss for words. I don't know what happened. I was in great position, but when it came time to go, he wouldn't go.”

Trainer Jonathan Thomas (Catholic Boy, 13^th) – “It looks like we got eliminated at the start.”

Jockey Javier Castellano (Catholic Boy, 13^th) – “I'm very disappointed. The break cost us the race and then we had to fight to get through. Down the backside, he just gave up.”

Jockey Oisin Murphy (Roaring Lion, 14^th) – “He's absolutely fine. The early part of the race didn't quite work out for him and we were on the backfoot from then on. He now deserves a nice break before embarking on hopefully what will be a great stallion career.”