Post by Cruisey on May 30, 2015 17:22:06 GMT -5
DARK MAIDEN && TALIA SMITH
SOPHIE'S VOICE && JOHNNY GARNER
AQUATIC ADDICTION && JAMES COLLURA
Fall Workout
“Typical chestnut mares…” Johnny muttered as he watched five year old Sophie’s Voice being led towards him. Soph’s tail was swishing a thousand miles an hour with her eyes rolling and teeth chomping on her bit. The massive mare was getting ready to hit most of the major female HOTY sprints starting this month, and there was no better time to do so. Soph got her Grade One win in the May Dirt Stakes, something well achieved and deserved for the talented daughter of Cryin’ Out Loud. She now ranked high with her most notable siblings, Tears Of Blood, Tears No More, Loud And Clear, HoF Lynara’s Kingdom, and Mighty News, all some of Green Horse Fields/The Wire’s best dirt sprinters. Carter was debating on retiring the flashy mare, but decided against it just because she was so lightly raced in the past and still had a chance to shine.
Aquatic Addiction was Soph’s counterpart; both bought at the same time and both recently lightly raced. Theo watched trackside as Soph kicked up a fuss, tossing her head as she voiced her opinions with a shrill whinny. One ear was cocked to the inside, waiting for James to reassure him that the mare wasn’t going to beat the life out of him. The bay stallion was doing well this season against some of the seasoned favourites like Anodyne, Limited Edition, and Battle Wings. Carter’s plans to send him to the Breeder’s Cup Sprint were completely solidified, and if Theo kept up the hard work, there was a chance he could win it, too.
The last horse to be lead out was a feisty little mare by the name of Dark Maiden. Carter was extremely confused with this one, not because she thought she was massive despite her 15hh stature, but because no matter how low of a race he entered her in, she always lost to younger horses. It was a long road of 2nd place finishes for Mai, but Talia wouldn’t give up on her just yet. She placed a promising 2nd place in the Evangeline Stakes* at Battlestone Downs in June, which hopefully would set her up for some nice undercard wins in the future. That was the problem with having a 3yo sprinter; there were hardly any undercards and only Sprinter Triple Tiara preps that Mai was in no way, shape, or form ready to take on.
As Carter helped each jockey onto their mount, he stopped them before they stepped onto the dirt for their workout.
“Keep it short, I’d like a three furlong blowout with a two furlong gallop out.” All three jockeys nodded in unison, kissing to their mounts to start their workout. Both Soph and Theo towered over small Mai, but that didn’t stop the bay filly from arching her neck and strutting her stuff in the trot. Soph was gnawing on the bit, almost like dynamite that hadn’t been exploded yet. Each step was like a fuse growing short and Johnny struggled to hold onto her. Theo was light in James’ hands, eagerly trotting forwards.
Once every horse felt loose, the jockeys gave the cue to start their blow out. Soph’s bomb was finally about to explode, and when it did she was first away, sprinting to the front of the pack. Mai was a little slower to catch up, but her front-running abilities kicked in as she galloped up to challenge the older mare on the rail. Theo hung back, sitting in a nice position at the rear. Johnny reined Soph up just enough to let Talia and Mai slip into the lead, much to Soph’s protest. Mai needed a confidence booster, and Johnny recognized this after watching her last race. Theo watched and waited, keeping one ear forwards and one ear on James, waiting for a cue to move on up. Two furlongs passed and James gave Theo his rein, asking him to move on up. The bay stallion responded eagerly, lowering his body as he drove his hooves into the dirt. Talia showed Mai the stick and asked the filly for more. Pinning her ears, the filly responded, but it wasn’t enough for the chestnut mare on her outside. Soph didn’t like that Theo had gained ground and surged forwards, almost unseating a very surprised Johnny. It was a three horse battle to the wire, but it quickly became two as Mai dropped half a length behind the two experienced racers. As they crossed their marker, the two jockeys in front slowed their mounts enough for Mai to gallop beside them. They were three across the track as Carter adjusted his binoculars, watching them gallop out two furlongs. The two older horses looked fabulous, and Mai did a good job at trying to keep up with them. If she raced how she worked, she would hit grade three in no time.
Aquatic Addiction was Soph’s counterpart; both bought at the same time and both recently lightly raced. Theo watched trackside as Soph kicked up a fuss, tossing her head as she voiced her opinions with a shrill whinny. One ear was cocked to the inside, waiting for James to reassure him that the mare wasn’t going to beat the life out of him. The bay stallion was doing well this season against some of the seasoned favourites like Anodyne, Limited Edition, and Battle Wings. Carter’s plans to send him to the Breeder’s Cup Sprint were completely solidified, and if Theo kept up the hard work, there was a chance he could win it, too.
The last horse to be lead out was a feisty little mare by the name of Dark Maiden. Carter was extremely confused with this one, not because she thought she was massive despite her 15hh stature, but because no matter how low of a race he entered her in, she always lost to younger horses. It was a long road of 2nd place finishes for Mai, but Talia wouldn’t give up on her just yet. She placed a promising 2nd place in the Evangeline Stakes* at Battlestone Downs in June, which hopefully would set her up for some nice undercard wins in the future. That was the problem with having a 3yo sprinter; there were hardly any undercards and only Sprinter Triple Tiara preps that Mai was in no way, shape, or form ready to take on.
As Carter helped each jockey onto their mount, he stopped them before they stepped onto the dirt for their workout.
“Keep it short, I’d like a three furlong blowout with a two furlong gallop out.” All three jockeys nodded in unison, kissing to their mounts to start their workout. Both Soph and Theo towered over small Mai, but that didn’t stop the bay filly from arching her neck and strutting her stuff in the trot. Soph was gnawing on the bit, almost like dynamite that hadn’t been exploded yet. Each step was like a fuse growing short and Johnny struggled to hold onto her. Theo was light in James’ hands, eagerly trotting forwards.
Once every horse felt loose, the jockeys gave the cue to start their blow out. Soph’s bomb was finally about to explode, and when it did she was first away, sprinting to the front of the pack. Mai was a little slower to catch up, but her front-running abilities kicked in as she galloped up to challenge the older mare on the rail. Theo hung back, sitting in a nice position at the rear. Johnny reined Soph up just enough to let Talia and Mai slip into the lead, much to Soph’s protest. Mai needed a confidence booster, and Johnny recognized this after watching her last race. Theo watched and waited, keeping one ear forwards and one ear on James, waiting for a cue to move on up. Two furlongs passed and James gave Theo his rein, asking him to move on up. The bay stallion responded eagerly, lowering his body as he drove his hooves into the dirt. Talia showed Mai the stick and asked the filly for more. Pinning her ears, the filly responded, but it wasn’t enough for the chestnut mare on her outside. Soph didn’t like that Theo had gained ground and surged forwards, almost unseating a very surprised Johnny. It was a three horse battle to the wire, but it quickly became two as Mai dropped half a length behind the two experienced racers. As they crossed their marker, the two jockeys in front slowed their mounts enough for Mai to gallop beside them. They were three across the track as Carter adjusted his binoculars, watching them gallop out two furlongs. The two older horses looked fabulous, and Mai did a good job at trying to keep up with them. If she raced how she worked, she would hit grade three in no time.
