Great Return

<sup>After a over a year layoff, Key To Flight was about to start racing again. He had bundles of talent and Hailey had saw it in him when she had first layed eyes on him. In his three year old season, he had placed in the Preakness Stakes against Furious Passion, the Triple Crown winner! That alone got him a ticket into TKR. Besides that fact, Keegan has placed in the majority of his races. Terror Smile had also placed in the majority of her races before being picked up by TKR and being made a champion. Hailey just couldn't turn a horse with such potential away.

Iron Man also had been on a pretty long layoff and came back in December and placed third in Green Horse Dirt Sprint. He hadn't been worked in a while going into the race and was completely wired. Iron freaked out at the start of the race and really never recovered. This was why he needed lots of work today in order to be ready for this race.

Hailey stood by the rail waiting for Mike and Becky who were saddling the two stallions. She glanced around nervously. The reporters had backed off a bit but they still wanted more on Smiles and her injury. If she was spotted, Hailey felt that she would be just swarmed. She bit her lip and looked back again, checking for Mike and Becky. Where are they? she thought to herself. She turned back to watch the action on the track. Everyone was trying to get their horse's works in for the first week's races. Suddenly, she heard Becky's voice behind her. Hailey turned and spoke, "Where have you guys been?"

"Keegan thought that it was funny to try and steal Becky's crop," Mike spoke first as Becky rolled her eyes at the stallion. Hailey sighed. The only problem with Keegan was that he was always messing around and it got annoying after a while. He was fine on the track as long as no one brought hay in sight. If there was a stack of hay at the finish line, Hailey swore that Keegan would win every time. Iron was trotting at Mike's side while Keegan was walking at Becky's. Hailey nodded, "Alright, now that you guys are here, we can start. I want to work them for four furlongs. Try to achieve the fastest time that you can." Becky nodded before mounting Keegan and Mike did the same before mounting Iron Man.

Hailey wished them luck and sent them on their way to the track. Iron Man bolted down the track immediately. Mike rose in the irons leaning back in the saddle. Iron slowed but glanced around nervously. Becky let Keegan gallop up behind Iron. The stallion seemed glad to be back on the track. The started to get into position as they travelled down the backstretch at a slow gallop. Mike slowed Iron Man the best he could and let Keegan gallop up next to him. Iron's eyes widened at the sudden competition and swerved to the rail, eyes never leaving Keegan. The five year old stallion snorted and asked for more rein from Becky. She didn't give it to him though. The colt seemed a bit mad about that but didn't fight.

They breezed past the 1/2 pole and both riders asked for their horses to pick it up. Keegan responded happily and charged forward into a very fast gallop. Iron Man also increased speed. They travelled around the turn at high speeds. Becky glanced at Iron Man before making the decsion to ask Keegan for a full out gallop. As they entered the homestretch Becky pulled out her crop and asked Keegan for all he had. The stallion charged forward with his nostrils flared, galloping across the dirt with light strides yet powerful strides. "Come on boy!" Mike then asked Iron Man for his speed, but swerved him to the far outside to avoid Becky's whip. "Go!" Mike shouted over the wind at Iron. The colt snorted and then flattened out, running after Keegan. The other grey stallion was already five lengths in front though and Iron wasn't gaining too much on him. Keegan swept under the wire and Iron followed.

When they got back to Hailey she was sitting on the rail with her stopwatch in hand. She nodded, "Very impressive... Keegan ran well. Seems like he can't wait to race again." Becky nodded, smiling. She was pleased with his preformance. Mike looked at Hailey expectantly, "Iron ran well too for having to take that wide swing on the outside. If he stayed on the rail I think he could of gotten a better time. It was a smart move to keep him away from the whip though." She nodded a final nod before speaking once more, "You guys can go cool them out. All of you did good."


dirt track; 4 furlong work
words; 817</sup>