Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2012 4:17:11 GMT -5
[/blockquote]Winning Touch works with Megs
Workout for the Intipidio Finish Derby
The week before, Winnie had aced her race. She beat Grade Five runner, Chicago Blues in the Running Expectation Stakes, and was now entered in the Intipidio Finish Derby over nine furlongs on the dirt. It would be her first dirt race of the season. In three starts during the season, she scored two wins and a place. We were hoping to get her up to Grade Four with a win in this race tomorrow. The lineup for the race contained some good horses, including Enchantress and Sweeto Cheeto. It would be tough competition for Winnie, but with a good workout today and a bit of a push, I knew she could take the win. She had perfect consistency and she wasn't going to be let down today.
In Gate One was the Witch Creek Racing colt, Sweeto Cheeto. This four year old was the son of Hall Of Famer, Like A Cheetah. He was born at Akita Rose Stables but sold on at the start of the Y12 Season after a poor performance in his comeback at the end of his three-year-old season. The colt was a stalker, so would be alongside Winnie throughout the race until the final quarter mile where they would probably pounce and make there move. In Gate Two was Dreamvalley four-year-old Enchantress. She had a bad start as a two year old, claiming two seconds, a seventh, and a tenth, before earning a win and three fifths, and breaking her maiden in the Seaspray Cup. She is a closer, and tends to race nine to twelve furlongs, so she was at the start of her comfort range for this race.
In Gate Three, there was another Dreamvalley Entry, this time a three-year-old colt by the name of Lucky Silver. He was main rivals along side Instant Success, Euphoria's Warrior and other colts for that matter. He raced well throughout the year, but didn't manage to break his maiden until October. He placed fifth in the Juvenile, behind Instant Success, Forbidden To Fly, Eternal Phantom and Euphoria's Warrior. His first start of the year was in the Unicorn Horn Colts Dirt, where he finished a promising fourth. He was also a closer, so would be alongside In Gate Four, there was the two-year-old Stride Of Perfection Filly, Sizzling Dawn. She had only raced on The Wire's track this season, but she was proving to be a very good racer at the moment. She's earned herself a first, a second, and a third, and proved herself after having a bad start to her prospect season. She was the only front runner of the field, so would be taking the lead all the way round.
Winnie stepped energetically out onto the dirt. She loved the dirt as much as the turf. It was her ambition to race. Today she'd be working seven furlongs with me on board. She raced well under me last time, so I'm hoping that this workout and this run can be just as good. Winnie chomped on her snaffle bit and walked with an energetic bounce in her step. She was raring to go today, and I could tell. This filly was an easy filly to read. When she's having a bad day, you'll know, but today, she was having a good day, and you could tell. I squeezed the filly forward into a trot and she tossed her head, letting out a little squeal and putting in a little buck. I pushed her through it and tried to ask her again. She broke into a canter perfectly and began to work her way round the turn slowly but surely.
We began to approach the mile mark and Winnie perked her ears, and the pace quickened suddenly. I crouched down and began to ride her forward. She responsed and yet again she leapt forward. Her long stride carried me past the seven furlong pole and I began to drive her. The filly snorted and extended her stride. I kept niggling at her as she continued along the backstretch into the turn. Passing the four furlong pole, we began to increase the pace even more. Her muscles began to work and she began to power into the turn, changing her lead leg. Round the bend I kept pushing her. I wanted her to excel and take the victory in this race. I closed my eyes and bit my lip, praying and hoping that we could win. Opening my eyes, I still bit my lip hard. She flew into the home stretch and she changed her lead. Changing her lead, she used the saved momentum to power down the stretch and under the wire. She let out a loud whinny as we flew under the wire. I pulled her up. Let's go win this race, girl. I said to her, patting her warm dark neck.
