Post by morgana on Dec 17, 2011 23:33:45 GMT -5
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LIMITED BLUEZ AND KATIE REIMER
WORKOUT FOR THE BREEDER'S CUP SPRINT
It was only a few days before the Breeder's Cup, and all of Edge of Glory was working wildly to prepare. The only horse that qualified this year, however, was Limited Bluez. The young chestnut colt was a perfect contender for the Breeder's Cup Sprint, and Harriet had figured that since he had placed well last year he had a very good chance at winning this year, and they all wanted to give him the best chance he had by working him and conditioning him. The only thing, however, was finding a jockey for him that was experienced enough to guide him around the field.
Harriet led the chestnut out of the shedrow and got him tacked up. Katherine "Katie" Reimer was Blue's regular jockey, and Harriet had great faith in the young British girl. Katie was assertive, aggressive and a total go-getter. She also knew Blue very well, and the chestnut seemed to like her quite a bit. Though their competition was going to be tough. So far, from what Harriet had read, Here's The King was the other contender for the sprint, and while the other stallion was older, and the son of Royal Red Richard had very regal bloodlines, Harriet was confident that they matched in experience. And Blue had seen the Breeder's Cup Sprint before, so despite the lineage, he did have that advantage. They boosted Katie into the saddle and got them onto the track.
"Alright, we're going to breeze him those six furlongs as though we're actually running the race," Harriet told her, holding Blue's leadshank. "Others may enter the race before it runs, but for the time being I want to focus on Here's The King. He's going to break and bring up the rear. He'll linger back up until the final two stretches and then make his move. Blue is going to break like a rocket and want to go straight to the lead. When the actual race comes, hold onto that lead but don't let him burn out. Around the time King makes his move, let him shift to top gear down the stretch and home. If we know what he's going to do, we have an advantage. I've seen that horse run, he's not going to be easy competition. Today, we're just going to clock him and see what he runs,"
They got Blue to the track and let him trot and canter the first two furlongs. When they hit the sixth furlong pole, Katie wound her fingers through Blue's mane and let him out. Blue dug in and launched into full speed. His breath exploded from his nostrils and and Katie could feel his body lower to the ground as he tore up the track. Poles whizzed by and Katie felt every muscle bunch and release beneath her as though she was riding a newly shot bullet.
Harriet stood on the side, clocking the colt's time. She watched numbers that didn't seem to be able to keep up with Blue's scorching speed. He clocked in at :22 when he finally crossed the pole and Harriet about dropped the stopwatch.
"He's going to do it, he's going to do it, the horse is brilliant!" Harriet screeched as Katie leaned on the stallion's mouth and stood in the irons. Blue eventually geared down and fell into a bouncing hand gallop and canter, eventually slowing up. He had what it took, Harriet was sure of it, and so was everyone else, this being apparent as Katie's smile broadened, whooping as she slapped the stallion's neck affectionately.