Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2012 3:47:47 GMT -5
WORKOUT FOR THE JULY MAIDEN TURF
TERROR SMILE RIDDEN BY AIDEN SMITH
Terror Smile, the 4-year-old filly, had earned herself a show and a few places; all she was missing now was a win. Hailey Levine, her owner and trainer, was determined to get a win out of this impressive filly. She knew that Smiles had the gameness and the joy of running to win... All she needed was the works. Her last race was impressive as she was barely beaten by another mare in the Y11 Stable Face Off Maiden turf. Since then, Smiles hadn't gotten much training on the track.
Aiden Smith, exercise jockey, walked beside Becky Andrews, Smile's groom. They spoke little as they walked towards the track. The sun hadn't rose and the sky was still dark. The only light was coming from the track lights that illuminated the deserted raceway. The young jockey gathered the reins and a piece of Smile's dark Grey mane and hopped aboard. Becky barely stopped her before starting again, towards the track. She found herself whispering to the jockey as if trying not to disturb the quietness, "Ms. Levine says she wants you to take her five furlongs and come in no slower than a minute flat." Aiden nodded as she released the reins and let him lead the mare out onto the track, "I'm watching!" Becky hissed at him before he let Smiles spread out into a slow canter down the stretch.
Aiden had total confidence in the filly. He felt almost assured of victory at the upcoming race. The competition in his mind wasn't real tough and he wasn't worried about Smile's class. We should have won months ago at that Stable Face Off, he thought to himself as he perched himself high in the stirrups. He reached down and patted her shoulder slightly at the thought. "We'll win this time... Won't we girl?" he whispered under his breath to the Grey filly. Her dark ears flicked back and then forward again as she rounded the first turn; Aiden got ready in the saddle.
He crouched down low on her withers and her stride started to spread out as she gained speed. Her head was held high as she looked around at the stands, silhouetted against the purple skyline; Aiden had never taken Smiles out alone until now and she was taking to it well, considering. Aiden kissed in her ear and she spread out to run faster down the backstretch. His crop swung loosely at his side as he focused on keeping control of the mare. "That's a girl, baby." He whispered as they streaked past the half pole.
Aiden leaned with Smiles as they entered the second turn. Terror dug into the group hard, her strides coming effortlessly. Aiden sat completely still as she went through her running cycle. Suddenly, as she passed the quarter pole he started to rock and urge her forward faster. She responded with a burst of speed. She pounded down the homestretch in a blur of Grey. Aiden asked her to switch her lead leg, which she did with pleasure and then asked for a little more. He checked his watch and then looked back up, crossing under the wire.
Almost immediately Smiles eased and turned, jigging back down the track. They returned to the opening in the track and greeted Becky once more. Aiden nodded to her as she walked up, smiling. "Very nice... Hailey'll be pleased you actually did good," she teased. Aiden lost his look of joy and became serious. "Whatever... Let's get back before the other horses start showing up." He added a few seconds later, "Apparently, the trainers think I'm good enough to ride their horses." Becky grinned and Aiden jumped off of Smiles, patting her neck and walked her back to the barn.
"This should be a piece of cake," he whispered to the filly.
words; 638
turf track; five furlongs