BREEDERS' CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

November 4, 2023

Steve Laymon

Marty Scheinman

Will Robbins

Santa Anita Park

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We can go ahead and get started while we wait. Congratulations, Goodnight Olive. If you can please introduce yourself.

STEVE LAYMON: I'm Steve Laymon. I'm the owning manager of First Row Partners.

MARTY SCHEINMAN: I'm Marty Scheinman, I'm one of the owners of First Row Partners and Goodnight Olive.

STEVE LAYMON: We're waiting on Will.

Robbins.

THE MODERATOR: We're going to go ahead and get started. It has to be so exciting to go back to back with such an incredible mare.

STEVE LAYMON: It was obviously the goal that we started after last year's win. A lot of folks were thinking we'd retire her, and it was never a consideration with this group. First Row Partners is made up of a bunch of guys that love to race. We miss Jay Hanley. Jay's not with us. He's going to see us Tuesday in Kentucky when she goes to the ring. We're sad to see her go, but what a career for this mare.

THE MODERATOR: I wanted to ask you about that. Obviously so much fun having her to race. Now she'll be selling at Fasig-Tipton on Tuesday. Just your emotions on that.

MARTY SCHEINMAN: It's bittersweet obviously. It's also the right thing to do for her because she deserves the unbelievable career afterwards. We're mostly a racing partnership, as Steve said. We've obviously thought about it. But this is right move for her. Everything that's been done with our managing partner, our trainer, and our rider is to do in her interests. We think this is in her interests.

WILL ROBBINS: Will Robbins, one of the partners in First Row.

THE MODERATOR: As you heard your other partners say, Goodnight Olive has taken you all on an incredible run. Another one with back-to-back victories in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. Just describe over the last couple of years the run and so many people to share this with.

WILL ROBBINS: I want to say thank you to my partnership and to my managing partner Steve Laymon, to the whole team, it's been an incredible run. We never thought five, six years ago, we'd ever have the luck we've had. We'd go out with Olive as a champion. It's been an incredibly fun and meaningful trip for our partnership and also for my family here with us, and my brother and father, who also own a little piece of the horse and watching on TV. It's been super special.

THE MODERATOR: Just watching her race, and I know when she drew the 1 post, there was a little bit of concern about the ability to overcome that. It looked like today she was very sharp out of the gate.

STEVE LAYMON: My son actually pulled the stats for this year. This was her fifth start, Tyler, I believe? She drew the 1 or 2 post in four of those starts, so we kind of got accustomed to it.

When you first see the draw, you worry about t but we got the trip we wanted because Chad and I kind of handicapped the race. He and I often do that, especially at Saratoga. Just developed beautifully. Irad delivered, and so did Goodnight Olive.

THE MODERATOR: When she's going in the Sale on Tuesday, will you all be there? What's your emotions as she goes in there? She's going to be extremely popular?

STEVE LAYMON: You want to answer this one together? Yes!

WILL ROBBINS: I grew up in Lexington. So I'll definitely be there. I used to work for Fasig-Tipton during my summers in high school, so it's a special meaning for me on Tuesday night.

MARTY SCHEINMAN: I'm supposed to go, but I'm supposed to be a grandfather the same day. I'm completely conflicted. You could imagine -- family, Goodnight Olive -- I'll probably be there.

THE MODERATOR: A true horse owner. Congratulations to all of you, to Goodnight Olive, and good luck to her in her new career, well deserved.