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48th Running of the $100,000 Wilshire Handicap Grade III (1 Mile Turf)

Jockey Quotes

COREY NAKATANI, GORGEOUS GOOSE, Winner: “Last year we went through a lot of issues health-wise, broken bones and all that good stuff. We’re just trying to get healthy and back on track. I’m feeling good and getting to ride for top outfits again. I’ll be all right. This filly was training really well for this race and Mike (Puype) was pretty high on her. She’s a really nice filly and today the race set up perfect for her. I wasn’t surprised at all.”

DAVID FLORES, DIAMOND DIVA, Second: “She ran great. I thought she was going to pull, but no, she was nice and comfortable. She was on the bridle all the way. I wait, and wait and wait as much as I could but she just got a little tired. She’ll be good to go next time.”

Trainer Quotes

MIKE PUYPE, GORGEOUS GOOSE, Winner: “Corey (Nakatani) rode a perfect race. She showed good talent in the race before the layoff when she got beat a nose over at Santa Anita. The race down the hill when she came back was outstanding. In her last race she lost all momentum when she came across the dirt. She skipped wide to the right and lost all chance at that point. The odds were a little inflated today based on that particular situation, but she ran really good today. She had good pace to run at and she ran really well. There are three mile races over here and she’ll run in each of those races.”

• NOTES:* The win was the third of the day for Corey Nakatani, who had an abbreviated campaign in 2008 due to a pair of collarbone injuries. Rode 46 winners in 2008. Nakatani and trainer Mike Puype also combined for a victory with Full On one race prior to the Wilshire.

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