A Meeting Of Minds

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Paradise Island’s workout for ARLINGTON MILLION STAKES*
National Treasure’s workout for PROVEN STRONG STAKES*
Divided Notion’s workout for PROVINCIA DERBY*

Jaimie Sandler had never worked with any of Blue Cross Estates other jockeys, the exception being Stanley Newton. So naturally, upon discovering that she would finally be working with Christopher Descartes, she got a little bit excited. In her eyes, it meant that she was here to stay. The estate finally trusted her to the point where she could be allowed to familiarize herself with it, and it was absolutely thrilling. Another added point was that she was earning this trust aboard the triple tiara champion Paradise Island, whose name alone caused jockeys far and wide to salivate at the simple thought of gracing her back. It was going to be a very good day for Jaimie.

Stanley Newton was nervous. The future of National Treasure had been placed in his hands, and he wanted nothing more than to allow her to shine. She was not only simply a great filly, she was perhaps the greatest filly he had encountered throughout his entire career. She had more than potential and promise, she had ability, and he wanted desperately to use it. On top of the stress he felt over the black filly, he had also been tasked with keeping Jaimie Sandler’s head on straight so Paradise Island could shine as well, and if he was being completely honest, he felt as if he was coming undone. When he had signed on with Blue Cross Estates, he had done so enjoying the small stable it had been. Then, it had rapidly expanded within a short period of time, and suddenly all Stanley was ever doing was riding horses or training horses or training people to train and ride horses. It was wearing him thin, and sooner or later something would have to give.

Christopher Descartes was determined. Divided Notion had tanked in the Seashell cup and he blamed himself. He knew the colt could do better, and he was set on making him better. The Seashell Cup hadn’t been out of his reach, just out of his breath. Christopher had literally felt the moment the colt had lost his drive, and then they had fallen back so fast he could barely catch his own breath. The Provincia Derby was going to be different. Divided Notion was just as much a star as any other horse at Blue Cross, and Christopher was going to make it known.

It was Jaimie Sandler who arrived at the track first, it had been a habit that had been more or less forced upon her by Stanley, who had told her it was most definitely better to be an early jockey than a late one. As a result, she was almost always there before the horses or any of the other jockeys themselves. Today was an exception, however, as she pulled up to the Wire track and was surprised by the frame of Christopher Descartes. She hadn’t actually had a conversation with the man before, and knew very little about him with the exception that he was the head trainer’s son, and he had been one of the strongest pushing to be allowed to ride Paradise Island. The fact made her a little uncertain about how he would view her, but then Stanley was rolling up as well and the trailer was in pursuit, and it was suddenly all okay.

Stanley Newton climbed from his car and greeted the other two jockeys before making his way over to Descartes. The head trainer climbed from the head of the truck as a trickle of grooms accompanied him around to the rear of the trailer. They set to unloading the three horses immediately, Stanley and Descartes both watching with attention as they black frame of National Treasure danced out onto the ground, followed quickly by Divided Notion and Paradise Island herself. It was useless to say that the sight of the Triple Tiara winner did not excite the both of them, Paradise Island was a species in her own right, a bay monster whose legacy lived on while the raced the tracks. She was a champion, and deserved the best last year any horse of such stature could have.

Christopher Descartes got to his feet at the arrival of the other jockeys. He returned Stanley’s greetings immediately, raising his hand in acknowledgement as they walked over to watch the horses unload. His eyes fell then to the young frame of Jaimie Sandler. He hadn’t met her yet, which was rather odd as they where two of the estates four jockeys, but he wasted no time in formally introducing himself. She looked momentarily surprised at his inquiry, but it soon subsided as he questioned her on the welfare of Criss Cross and Paradise Island, and all discomfort faded into that of horse talk.

The horses were quickly saddled as the professionals they were, and within moments Jaimie Sandler found herself seated on the back of Paradise Island. The feeling was as brilliant as always, and she leaned forward to stroke the mare’s mane with affection as the bay beauty shuffled beneath her, ears forward. Paradise Island had quickly become Jaimie’s favorite around the estate. She rode the horse and she felt brave, accomplished. As she had been saddled first, she walked Paradise Island along at a slow, idling pace, watching as Christopher was helped up onto the back of Divided Notion and Stanley to National Treasure. As their stirrups were adjusted, Descartes came over and instructed how he wanted Paradise Island to run, how the older more experienced mare was to push the two to the brink but still carry enough to win. She simply nodded, sat sharp and directed the horse out onto the track for a half mile warm up.

Stanley Newton ran a comforting hand over that of National Treasure’s forehead, smiling as the filly nudged back in response. She had run a fantastic Yinz Stakes against an unscheduled G2, and he was positive she was ready to wrap up the Proven Strong. She was a bullet in a loaded gun and she was simply rearing to go, dancing along underneath him with uncontained energy. She was the kind of horse Stanley lived for to ride, the main reason he had fought so hard to be able to ride her when he was usually dealing with the horses that needed an extra push. Treasure had been one too great to resist.

The warm up lap finished and they all rode back, Divided Notion in the company of the other fillies. Their jockeys sat slightly tense, it was an important workout for important races and each wanted their own horse to excel. Descartes lined them up, National Treasure dancing uneasily at the line until finally the head trainer let them go and they took off like the creatures of flight they were. As instructed, Paradise Island took off like a rocket, leading the way down the stretch, National Treasure and Divided Notion warring for positions behind her. Eventually Stanley reined Treasure in, placing her where she would be comfortable and allowing Divided Notion to proceed after Paradise Island. The Triple Tiara winner did not hold back, setting a killer pace and taking Jaimie along for the ride as the blazed a vicious four length lead on the two three year olds.

Behind, in the wings Christopher urged Divided Notion along at National Treasure’s challenge, and the two moved up to flank Paradise Island as they stirred up dust and dirt in their wake. In front, Paradise Island continued on her warpath, pushing the three year olds out of their comfort zone and into a higher gear as they headed for home. At the ending stretch it seemed that Paradise Island only found more energy, and really kicked into overdrive, though Divided Notion and National Treasure did the same, closing hard and fast and completely decreasing the lead to non existent. When they crossed, it was with Paradise Island in front, but the other two were hot on her heels. If anything had been unclear before hand, it had been made visible now. Blue Cross Estates was home to three champions, one well known and two in the rising. Concern was a thing of the past.