Our mile-and-a-half program has improved a good bit this year compared to last year,

The back of the car jumped up on me a bit there, but it was a good run. I wish we could've held on to the pole, but I'll take the top-five start and I just can't wait to get the show on the road tomorrow.

I knew we were going to have a good run here this morning,

In one-half mile, we can have good sidewalks, trees, and lighting.

My horse was getting a little bit tired. They quickened at the half-mile pole and it looked like maybe Alex got a little breather around the turn. My horse is so big, I was really asking him going to the quarter pole, but Alex was just cruising and we just couldn't quite make up that much ground.

We've run up around the front at most of the intermediate tracks -- it just seems like something always strikes at some point to derail us from maintaining those strong runs, but our intermediate cars are better and stronger.