"In a year, I can count on one hand the amount of times I'll ask a vet to gate-scratch a horse. And I ride anywhere from 700 to 1,200 races in a single season. A lot of these people are really good clients of mine and I'm trying my best to bring them success. I know how much time, effort and money it takes to get a horse to the races. I appreciate the opportunities to partner with them. I don't take the idea of gate-scratching a horse lightly. But let's say I'm wrong and the horse is okay. What's the worst that can happen? He lives to run another day. If I'm right and I ignore that instinct, the potential results aren't pleasant for anyone." For background from Jennie Rees: http://racing.courier-journal.com/2010/10/this-time-gomez-takes-off-makers-horses.html

Garrett Gomez on the Belmont: "Stuff like this happens a lot of times in the bigger races. Everybody doesn't ride the same as they normally do. Trainers don't exactly give the same instructions. Sometimes in the bigger races some guys want to be a little more aggressive and some don't, so the combination of the two makes things work out completely different than you think they will." Possibly explains why it was Dunkirk, not Charitable Man, on the lead.