Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2013 8:56:32 GMT -5
Lillith was taking a risk - one which she hoped would pay off. When the amazingly bred, and somewhat successful, Everyday Smile had fallen into her lap she had known that she would need to do something spectacular to make sure the filly lived up to her potential and after several weeks of training she knew the chestnut was ready to make her (hopefully) glorious return to the track. It would have been easy to enter her in a low level race for this comeback, but in truth the filly's sheer heart had won her over. If she was going to race a horse like Elle to her potential then she was going to have to take a leap of faith.
Lucas, who had worked with the filly previously, had been proving himself to be an excellent jockey. He understood the horses, adapted to what it was they needed and was not obsessed with being the best. His philosophy seemed to be that if the horse was doing their best and he was giving all he could then they would get along well. He had used his relationship with the chestnut to make the transition easier and had assured the trainer that they were ready. A difficult challenge, perhaps, but he would not back down in the Lone Star Derby in which the pair had been entered.
As Jack led the filly out onto the track it was hard to imagine that she hadn't been running under Lucas from the start. They looked good together, seeming as one as the jockey relaxed in the saddle, showing no concern despite the fact that he was about to face a major test. Lillith felt she'd had a real lucky break with him, too, and she needed to thank Vincent for bringing him and his desire to ride to her attention. With their growing string, it was unlikely that Vincent would have been able to keep up with everything on his own.
In order to bring the best out in the filly before the race, and to ensure that she would be ready for her own race, it had been decided that Afterglow - or Stormi - would join the workout with the filly. The mare had been a real star in her early career and while she had been experiencing a bit of a lull it was hoped that she, too, would pick up and start making a major impression on the track once more. Like Elle, she had not been with the stable for long and was still building a bond with her new jockey - Vincent.
As Lucas started to warm up the chestnut filly, Jack disappeared off of the track and soon returned with the older mare. The bay was alert, her tail snapping at her rump impatiently while Vincent looked more than ready for the workout. The dark-haired jockey was energetic and excitable and the fact that Stormi came with a well-built record under her belt only had him more determined than ever to get things started. Ever enthusiastic, she just hoped that some of Lucas' calmer nature would rub off on him in time.
Jack walked over, leaning against the fence as the two jockeys warmed up their mounts and nodded at the trainer who smiled in return. "Jack, I don't know who your connections are but at this rate we're going to be full before we know it." she laughed and the man winked, turning to face the trainer. "Ah, well, ah won' be gi'in' tha' one away miss." he told her. "Ah'll keep my eyes open, though. Any good prospects an' you'll know 'bout 'em." With that he turned his back on the trainer again, waiting quietly until the two thoroughbreds seemed sufficiently warmed for the workout and then striding forwards to take hold of Afterglow, first.
The mare was calm enough, although obviously ready for the workout as she was led to the gates and loaded. Her audits pricked as they reached the contraption, and she strode into her stall with a quiet determination - unphased as the shutters shut behind her and Jack loaded the second. Elle was a little more upbeat and energetic she remained calm as she was put into the gates and seemed nothing if not alert as they waited for the three furlong dash to begin.
Vincent grinned over the side of the stall. "This is it, newbie. I'm going to show you what a real racehorse can do. Think you can handle it?" Cocky but playful, his gaze was met by the much more sincere eyes of Lucas who nodded carefully. "We shall see." his statement was simple as he looked back to the track ahead, patting the chestnut's neck reassuringly.
It was not long before the gates clattered open, the two horses breaking well onto the track although Stormi was slightly quicker off the mark and took an early lead with her strong stride. Elle, who settled in behind her, seemed unphased by this early loss of ground however and was quick to settle in to the pace set by the bay, about two strides behind the older mare.
The pace was picking up quickly as the first furlong came to a close and while Stormi maintained her strong pace Elle, on Lucas' request, started to speed up a little. Soon they were head on head with the older horse and slipping past. But Stormi was not out of it. Seeing the competition Vincent cracked the crop, pushing Stormi into a sprint for the finish with Elle hot on her heels.
The bay mare got ahead again, but only just. Every time she tried to pull away the chestnut filly was right with her and it was beginning to look like it would be a photo finish. Lillith was on the edge of her seat as she watched the pair fighting for supremacy and just as they were reaching the post Elle managed to get her nose ahead. A shot of joy flowed through the trainer. They had a chance in this race, if only the filly could run like that come race day.
Lucas, who had worked with the filly previously, had been proving himself to be an excellent jockey. He understood the horses, adapted to what it was they needed and was not obsessed with being the best. His philosophy seemed to be that if the horse was doing their best and he was giving all he could then they would get along well. He had used his relationship with the chestnut to make the transition easier and had assured the trainer that they were ready. A difficult challenge, perhaps, but he would not back down in the Lone Star Derby in which the pair had been entered.
As Jack led the filly out onto the track it was hard to imagine that she hadn't been running under Lucas from the start. They looked good together, seeming as one as the jockey relaxed in the saddle, showing no concern despite the fact that he was about to face a major test. Lillith felt she'd had a real lucky break with him, too, and she needed to thank Vincent for bringing him and his desire to ride to her attention. With their growing string, it was unlikely that Vincent would have been able to keep up with everything on his own.
In order to bring the best out in the filly before the race, and to ensure that she would be ready for her own race, it had been decided that Afterglow - or Stormi - would join the workout with the filly. The mare had been a real star in her early career and while she had been experiencing a bit of a lull it was hoped that she, too, would pick up and start making a major impression on the track once more. Like Elle, she had not been with the stable for long and was still building a bond with her new jockey - Vincent.
As Lucas started to warm up the chestnut filly, Jack disappeared off of the track and soon returned with the older mare. The bay was alert, her tail snapping at her rump impatiently while Vincent looked more than ready for the workout. The dark-haired jockey was energetic and excitable and the fact that Stormi came with a well-built record under her belt only had him more determined than ever to get things started. Ever enthusiastic, she just hoped that some of Lucas' calmer nature would rub off on him in time.
Jack walked over, leaning against the fence as the two jockeys warmed up their mounts and nodded at the trainer who smiled in return. "Jack, I don't know who your connections are but at this rate we're going to be full before we know it." she laughed and the man winked, turning to face the trainer. "Ah, well, ah won' be gi'in' tha' one away miss." he told her. "Ah'll keep my eyes open, though. Any good prospects an' you'll know 'bout 'em." With that he turned his back on the trainer again, waiting quietly until the two thoroughbreds seemed sufficiently warmed for the workout and then striding forwards to take hold of Afterglow, first.
The mare was calm enough, although obviously ready for the workout as she was led to the gates and loaded. Her audits pricked as they reached the contraption, and she strode into her stall with a quiet determination - unphased as the shutters shut behind her and Jack loaded the second. Elle was a little more upbeat and energetic she remained calm as she was put into the gates and seemed nothing if not alert as they waited for the three furlong dash to begin.
Vincent grinned over the side of the stall. "This is it, newbie. I'm going to show you what a real racehorse can do. Think you can handle it?" Cocky but playful, his gaze was met by the much more sincere eyes of Lucas who nodded carefully. "We shall see." his statement was simple as he looked back to the track ahead, patting the chestnut's neck reassuringly.
It was not long before the gates clattered open, the two horses breaking well onto the track although Stormi was slightly quicker off the mark and took an early lead with her strong stride. Elle, who settled in behind her, seemed unphased by this early loss of ground however and was quick to settle in to the pace set by the bay, about two strides behind the older mare.
The pace was picking up quickly as the first furlong came to a close and while Stormi maintained her strong pace Elle, on Lucas' request, started to speed up a little. Soon they were head on head with the older horse and slipping past. But Stormi was not out of it. Seeing the competition Vincent cracked the crop, pushing Stormi into a sprint for the finish with Elle hot on her heels.
The bay mare got ahead again, but only just. Every time she tried to pull away the chestnut filly was right with her and it was beginning to look like it would be a photo finish. Lillith was on the edge of her seat as she watched the pair fighting for supremacy and just as they were reaching the post Elle managed to get her nose ahead. A shot of joy flowed through the trainer. They had a chance in this race, if only the filly could run like that come race day.
