Post by Cruisey on Feb 6, 2015 21:56:02 GMT -5
SPEAK EASY && JOHNNY GARNER
GHOST RIDER && SAMMIE PICKETT
Now that the turf horses were complete and put away, it was time for Carter’s first batch of dirt runners. The dirt would be in better condition than the turf since he had the track harrowed just a few minutes before. Being led to the track first was older chestnut mare, Ghost Rider. The mare looked half asleep walking beside Sammie. Gia didn’t have the most rewarding three year old season, only winning four races to make her a grade four runner with no HOTY races under her belt other than the Winter Cup. She was entered in the Hot Springs Stakes against stablemate and workout partner, Speak Easy.
At the mention of his name, the colt came striding up beside the mare like he was on a mission. His composure was quiet, but his eyes screamed ready to go. It was his first race back from his thrilling Breeder’s Cup place, and he was up against none other than Palisades Pirate, someone who he has run against all of Year Fourteen, alongside Lethal Dose and stablemate Ghost Rider. The black colt looked stronger; all of the baby lankiness had turned into muscle while he still maintained the sleek Thoroughbred look. As soon as the colt stepped onto the track under Johnny’s guidance, the older jockey knew this horse would grow up to be something great once you got past his lazy façade.
Sammie guided Gia beside Sonny as they began their workout. Neither needed gate practice as they just wanted them to be fresh and fit for their race. The horses trotted side by side, the chestnut filly strutting her stuff to impress the younger horse beside her. Sonny didn’t do as much as give her a second glance, as his mind was focused on the task ahead of him. There was no doubt that Gia moved pretty well on the track, but if she wasn’t able to be a successful racehorse then she would be a mighty fine broodmare just based on looks. When the pair was looser, both Sammie and Johnny allowed them to move up into a nice cantering pace. Sonny was naturally lazy and looked quite sluggish, but it was just because he knew what they were doing. He wasn’t a dumb horse by any means; he knew when it counted and when it didn’t. By the time Johnny found a pace that suited the horse, they had fallen behind the mare quite a bit. Gia seemed strong underneath Sammie’s guidance, like she was ready to pull the bit straight from her mouth.
They continued on at that pace for a few more furlongs before allowing the horses to move into a moderately paced gallop now that they had finished their warm up. Gia didn’t need any urging from her jockey as her stride elongated underneath her. All Sammie had to do was sit quiet and let it happen. Sonny moved up with no hesitation, swiftly making his way up so that he was galloping beside Gia once more. It wasn’t going to be a hard workout, just a light gallop in preparation for their race. Besides a few occasional tugs on the bit in an attempt to get ahead of the other, the two horses really gave their riders little to no trouble at all. They galloped confidently side by side until it was time to bring them back for their cool down.
Once they had done with their breeze, Sammie and Johnny pulled them back up, slowing them down to the slow canter they had been in previously for another few furlongs. Neither horse was puffing, although they did have a thin coat of shine to them due to sweat. After a bit, they brought them back down to the trot before switching completely down to a walk. Both horses still felt like they could go on for a bit longer, but that was a good thing. It meant the conditioning that they were going through was working and their stamina was building.
