LOUISVILLE – Here is how some of the losing jockeys saw the race:

Mike Smith (Proud Citizen, 2nd): “He ran a tremendous race. I told Wayne Lukas the only difference between the winner and us was that the winner relished the track. I tried to stay within striking distance, but he just kicked away from us.”

Eddie Delahoussaye (Perfect Drift, 3rd): “They were walking, so I was up front but didn’t want to be. I was just being dragged along with the race. Look at the tapes and you’ll see I was strangling the horse.”

Laffit Pincay Jr. (Medaglia d’Oro, 4th): “He didn’t break well and we got squeezed back, so instead of being close to the pace, I found myself behind a lot of horses. I couldn’t get out of the jam.”

Robby Albarado (Request for Parole, 5th): “I had a great trip. Unbelievably, no trouble. The horse tried all the way.”

Chris McCarron (Came Home, 6th): “He ran a legitimate race. It was probably a little slower. War Emblem was the best horse. He set the fractions and didn’t look back.”

Edgar Prado (Harlan’s Holiday, 7th): “He broke OK, but he didn’t pull like he usually does. In the backstretch, he didn’t give me any confidence. He really didn’t respond.”

Gary Stevens (Johannesburg, 8th): “A half-mile out of the gate, I was urging him to keep position. And when you have to do that in the Kentucky Derby, you know you don’t have much chance.”

David Flores (Essence of Dubai, 9th): “There was no pace. I was waiting for someone to challenge War Emblem, but when nobody did I knew I was in trouble. My horse just didn’t run at all.”

John Velazquez (Saarland, 10th): “He really didn’t want to run. He was steady the entire way and had no push whatsoever.”

Jerry Bailey (Castle Gandolfo, 12th): “There’s not much to say. We were in good shape but he couldn’t quicken like the others.”

Donnie Meche (Private Emblem, 14th): “Everyone thought there would be speed, but they didn’t ride their horses. They came around me and shuffled me back.”