Post by Cruisey on Aug 25, 2014 15:50:22 GMT -5
PRINCETTA && SAMMIE PICKETT
FLYING SOLO && JOHNNY GARNER
REFUTE && TALIA SMITH
The weather on Monday morning was not the typical Kentucky morning that Carter was praying for. Instead, the skies had opened up and rain poured down steadily at their home-base track, making the turf a grassy mess and the dirt a sloppy mud pile. The workouts had to happen at some point, and it was either now or never.
The first of the three horses to arrive at the track was Flying Solo and his jockey Johnny. Solo had a very impressive record this year – a very impressive one for a six year old, 13-6-4-0 with only placing out of the money three times. The bay stallion was a flexible racer, but preferred the stalking position. Solo was running in the Dash Stakes during September Week One, an open race over seven furlongs on the turf, part of the Senior Turf Sprinter Series Prep. He liked distances between five and ten furlongs, and Johnny felt they had a good chance, even though victory certainly wasn't a given, although he could hope.
Sammie was the next to arrive at the track. She was the jockey of gray four year old Princetta, who was on lease at Firestone from Intrepid Racing. Their upcoming race was during September Week Three, the GHF America Stakes, an undercard race for grade twos running over ten furlongs. Intrepid wanted to get the mare to a grade one status before the year ended, and the gray girl was almost there. Carter had a chat with Nicholas Landing, who trains the Grade Two mare, and he suggested that he run her in the undercard races to get her status up.
Last but not least Talia showed up mounted on the youngest of the field, two year old Refute. Carter didn’t want to pair the younger horse with the two seasoned racers, but he had no choice when the other turf horses were on break today. The bay colt was scheduled to race in the Executioner's Apprentice Classic at The Wire September Week Two. Dark was much calmer for Lucas. Ralph stood well, and other than a little fidgeting was well under control. The colt was a front runner, but he would be held back a bit today against the tougher competition. He a powerful horse who was one wins away from advancing to Grade Four.
Solo and Ralph were led toward the gates and Sammie took her time heading over with Malva. The near white filly was in her prime, her muscle well developed and well-toned. She had come to Firestone in mint condition, besides the fact she hadn’t raced since July Week One.
Gating was quick and easy; all three horses had no issues with the contraption and so entered without a fuss. The shutters closed behind them with Solo in Gate One, Ralph in Gate Two and Malva in Gate Three. The jockeys glanced at each other over the sides of the stalls before looking forwards and focusing on their respective horses. Talia had never sat on the bay colt before, so she had no idea what to expect with him. Sammie had two starts with Malva, one resulting in a second place finish and the other a third in the Autumn Cup.
The buzzer sounded and the three horses broke clean. Ralph broke the quickest, with Solo a neck behind and Malva lagging behind. Talia had to fight with the young colt to slow down, which he did eventually. The pace was controlled and not quick, the jockeys keeping their mounts from powering off at their own speed. The sound was like thunder as the three horses moved forwards, and there was a few struggles going on.
Ralph kept trying to surge forwards, while Malva tried to drop back and their jockeys were having to ensure they maintained the correct pace. Solo was the easiest to control of the trio, him being a seasoned racer and having Johnny as his rider the whole season really helped.
Some of the limitations slipped as they rounded the final turn. The three horses were having none of the current slow pace and were pressing forwards despite their jockeys holding them back. The acceleration was impressive and there was a three-way battle to the post. Giving in, the jockeys began to fight alongside their mounts and there was the clear string of intensity through the jockeys and horses that hummed through the field. They crossed the post so close to one another it was impossible to tell who had actually won, although by the looks of it, the gray mare was nose-to-nose with Solo with Ralph hidden behind the stallion’s body.
