Post by Kenren on Apr 14, 2015 13:50:19 GMT -5
Baciami & Halexia Suhail for the Kentucky Derby
in company with Mourning Passion
in company with Mourning Passion
"You're going to have to quit calling Ami a longshot, dad. Have you seen the field?" Minske looked up from where he was saddling Mourn to look at the head trainer, who was fiddling with a toothpick and only half-watching what his son was doing. When he spoke, though, Cole drew his attention back to his boy.
"No. You know I haven't." Minske let out a small chuckle, causing Mourn to flick one ear back at him before continuing to ignore him completely.
"Of course. But it's true, anyway. There are only two other horses currently in the field that have won a prep. I mean, yeah, they ran in more of them, but Ami's obviously hitting his stride at the right time. Plus," Minske paused, looking pointedly at the stallion he was currently tacking. "Mourn only had one more win than Ami going in. And Ami's riding a three-win streak, and that's more than Mourn had. The seasons are hard to compare, but it's at least some reason for hope." Cole didn't say anything, just watched his son and contemplated when he'd said for a minute. Then he shrugged.
"It doesn't matter what their horses have done. It just matters how ready ours is. So let's go get him ready." Minske grinned at the side of the horse as Cole walked away. Ever the gruff realist. However, his methods were effective. Minske bridled the big stallion quickly and led him out of the barn. It had been Hal's idea, actually, to work Ami against last year's Derby winner. Some might take it easy on their horses bound for the big day, but not Hal. Hal insisted he needed to be pushed to keep his edge, and Minske wasn't one to question it now that Baciami had knocked out three in a row. He'd had a week of rest since his big run in the Florida Derby and would have another week after this to freshen up for the Kentucky Derby. A tight schedule for some, but Baciami seemed to flourish under it. A neigh from the direction of the track signaled the presence of the horse of the moment himself, and when Minske came over the ridge, he caught sight of him. Bay, sleek, and strong, the colt was prancing around Hal and tossing his head. He seemed a little frustrated that the woman wasn't responding to his aggressive energy, but calmed a little when Hal ran a soothing hand down his neck. Working that magic that no one could explain and she didn't share. Mourn all but ignored the colt as Minske mounted, taking the stallion onto the track.
Hal, for her part, took a moment and looked Ami in the eye. Cheesy moment that it was, she felt it was right and be damned to anyone else. The colt stilled under her hands, breathing a few puffs of breath as he looked right back at her. "You have a big race to run out there. But if you want it bad enough, you can do it. They're no better than you." The moment was ruined when Ami jerked his head away and trumpeted out toward the track, but Hal had done what she wanted to do. Cole legged her into the saddle, reminding her of her instructions before sending her out. Not that Hal always listened to said instructions, but Cole did try. They were to take the horses out and get Baciami in front and Mourn pressing the pace. Ami could be a hothead, but the field was looking like it might have some of that going on and Cole didn't want Ami beating himself. Hal was continuously confident that Ami could fight for the lead outright and still have more than enough to take it him, but Cole wasn't going to leave it at that. The colt needed to learn to temper himself a little.
They warmed up together, and Hal immediately knew she'd made the right call as Ami trotted along beside the older horse. She could see Ami watching him, sensing the prowess of the stallion and feeling him gear up at the challenge before they'd even started running. She wanted that fire, that edge, inside of him. There was so much she could do with him if he wanted the win himself...
They continued through a canter and eventually worked them up to a gallop. She put Ami on the rail, and Minske put Mourn right beside him, only a head behind. Hal could immediately feel Ami wanting to open the gap, but she crooned to him soothingly, hands firm on the reins as she asked him to wait. He tossed his head, again, trying to push against the bit, but she wouldn't allow him to gain more than another half-length over Mourn, who frankly looked as if he was running alone and was paying the colt absolutely no attention. It was Minske who was keeping him perfectly placed to absolutely drive Ami up a wall. However, as they were going into the turn, something funny happened. Ami threw the smallest half a buck, only losing a small distance in doing so so that Mourn was right alongside of him, then he just... stopped fighting it. The fire wasn't lost, not in the least, but he wasn't fighting Hal's hands anymore. He allowed Mourn to stay beside him, ears pinned though they were, muscles bunched in rapt anticipation. It was new for him, but it was a good thing in Hal's eyes. When they rounded out of the turn, she gave one last glance to Minske before letting her colt go. There was a moment's hesitation, but when she urged him with her hands and voice, the explosion of acceleration he gave her was beyond anything she'd ever felt from him before. It was frustration and determination and simple excitement at being given what he wanted all mixed together. She just sat on him, not doing a thing, while Baciami drove away from his opponent with ever-increasing strides. Minske had been instructed not to give real chase with Mourn, but Hal thought it might not have mattered even if he had. The pent-up energy that the colt was releasing all at once was incredible. She was laughing when she finally pulled him up, wrapping her arms around his neck and singing his praises. The colt snorted, clearly pleased with himself, and practically pranced over to the gap. He might not be the favorite. He might be the front of a race that definitely had some speed. But he could do it. It was up to him to make the magic happen.
"No. You know I haven't." Minske let out a small chuckle, causing Mourn to flick one ear back at him before continuing to ignore him completely.
"Of course. But it's true, anyway. There are only two other horses currently in the field that have won a prep. I mean, yeah, they ran in more of them, but Ami's obviously hitting his stride at the right time. Plus," Minske paused, looking pointedly at the stallion he was currently tacking. "Mourn only had one more win than Ami going in. And Ami's riding a three-win streak, and that's more than Mourn had. The seasons are hard to compare, but it's at least some reason for hope." Cole didn't say anything, just watched his son and contemplated when he'd said for a minute. Then he shrugged.
"It doesn't matter what their horses have done. It just matters how ready ours is. So let's go get him ready." Minske grinned at the side of the horse as Cole walked away. Ever the gruff realist. However, his methods were effective. Minske bridled the big stallion quickly and led him out of the barn. It had been Hal's idea, actually, to work Ami against last year's Derby winner. Some might take it easy on their horses bound for the big day, but not Hal. Hal insisted he needed to be pushed to keep his edge, and Minske wasn't one to question it now that Baciami had knocked out three in a row. He'd had a week of rest since his big run in the Florida Derby and would have another week after this to freshen up for the Kentucky Derby. A tight schedule for some, but Baciami seemed to flourish under it. A neigh from the direction of the track signaled the presence of the horse of the moment himself, and when Minske came over the ridge, he caught sight of him. Bay, sleek, and strong, the colt was prancing around Hal and tossing his head. He seemed a little frustrated that the woman wasn't responding to his aggressive energy, but calmed a little when Hal ran a soothing hand down his neck. Working that magic that no one could explain and she didn't share. Mourn all but ignored the colt as Minske mounted, taking the stallion onto the track.
Hal, for her part, took a moment and looked Ami in the eye. Cheesy moment that it was, she felt it was right and be damned to anyone else. The colt stilled under her hands, breathing a few puffs of breath as he looked right back at her. "You have a big race to run out there. But if you want it bad enough, you can do it. They're no better than you." The moment was ruined when Ami jerked his head away and trumpeted out toward the track, but Hal had done what she wanted to do. Cole legged her into the saddle, reminding her of her instructions before sending her out. Not that Hal always listened to said instructions, but Cole did try. They were to take the horses out and get Baciami in front and Mourn pressing the pace. Ami could be a hothead, but the field was looking like it might have some of that going on and Cole didn't want Ami beating himself. Hal was continuously confident that Ami could fight for the lead outright and still have more than enough to take it him, but Cole wasn't going to leave it at that. The colt needed to learn to temper himself a little.
They warmed up together, and Hal immediately knew she'd made the right call as Ami trotted along beside the older horse. She could see Ami watching him, sensing the prowess of the stallion and feeling him gear up at the challenge before they'd even started running. She wanted that fire, that edge, inside of him. There was so much she could do with him if he wanted the win himself...
They continued through a canter and eventually worked them up to a gallop. She put Ami on the rail, and Minske put Mourn right beside him, only a head behind. Hal could immediately feel Ami wanting to open the gap, but she crooned to him soothingly, hands firm on the reins as she asked him to wait. He tossed his head, again, trying to push against the bit, but she wouldn't allow him to gain more than another half-length over Mourn, who frankly looked as if he was running alone and was paying the colt absolutely no attention. It was Minske who was keeping him perfectly placed to absolutely drive Ami up a wall. However, as they were going into the turn, something funny happened. Ami threw the smallest half a buck, only losing a small distance in doing so so that Mourn was right alongside of him, then he just... stopped fighting it. The fire wasn't lost, not in the least, but he wasn't fighting Hal's hands anymore. He allowed Mourn to stay beside him, ears pinned though they were, muscles bunched in rapt anticipation. It was new for him, but it was a good thing in Hal's eyes. When they rounded out of the turn, she gave one last glance to Minske before letting her colt go. There was a moment's hesitation, but when she urged him with her hands and voice, the explosion of acceleration he gave her was beyond anything she'd ever felt from him before. It was frustration and determination and simple excitement at being given what he wanted all mixed together. She just sat on him, not doing a thing, while Baciami drove away from his opponent with ever-increasing strides. Minske had been instructed not to give real chase with Mourn, but Hal thought it might not have mattered even if he had. The pent-up energy that the colt was releasing all at once was incredible. She was laughing when she finally pulled him up, wrapping her arms around his neck and singing his praises. The colt snorted, clearly pleased with himself, and practically pranced over to the gap. He might not be the favorite. He might be the front of a race that definitely had some speed. But he could do it. It was up to him to make the magic happen.
