I really didn't want [post ] 1 and I sure didn't want 14. I wanted him somewhere in the middle. I think he got an excellent post.

He's an amazing horse. … You could have lit a match in front of his nostrils after the Rebel.

I'm kind of surprised there are no shippers. But I don't think my horse scared them away. Everyone is looking for graded-stakes winnings these days. If the Southwest was graded, you can bet they'd be coming out of the woodwork.

The races don't seem to take a lot out of him. He's durable and bounces back quick. Two days later, you don't know he ran.

He doesn't have to be in front, but he's got enough natural speed to lay fairly close and stay out of trouble.

He flies to Kentucky Monday morning. Odds for the Kentucky Derby? I think he will be no worse than second choice. Of course, I might have a bias.