ELMONT, N.Y. -- In the aftermath of another troubled trip in the Preakness for Dollar Bill, his rider, Pat Day, said he told trainer Dallas Stewart that maybe he wasn't the right rider to stay on the horse.

"After the Preakness I was very distraught," Day said during a Thursday conference call with reporters. "I was sorry for the horse. I know the horse is considerably better than he's had an opportunity to show. I talked with Dallas and said maybe it isn't right. As I said, it was an emotional moment. A little later I called him back and said I want to retract that statement."

While Day has taken a lot of heat for Dollar Bill's trouble in the Derby and Preakness, he said other riders contributed to the problems.

"We've just been a victim of circumstances and rider error, and not necessarily mine," he said.