introductions

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THE RISING && MEESTER SURPRISE
RIDDEN BY MIKE TURNER && AIDEN SMITH
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The twenty-one year old jockey was told to meet Hailey Levine, owner of TKR, at the racetrack with both Meester Surprise and The Rising saddled up. Aiden was excited to show her how he and Ri were working lately. He believed he had been doing really good on the two year old colt out of The Natural. Although he hadn't an idea of why he had to bring Meester along, it didn't really strike him as odd.

As Aiden led the two colts down towards the grandstand, he spotted Hailey standing by the rail, speaking to some clockers. She was also accompanied by two other men, one of which was familiar. Hailey caught Aiden's eye and spoke something before approaching him with the two men. It was then that Aiden got a good enough look at the familar one, "Good Morning, Ms. Levine, Beck." Aiden smiled polietly, looking expectantly at the other jockey standing next to Hailey. "Thank you, Mr. Smith," Hailey turned to look at Beck, "Mr. Weiss asked that I look into asking his friend, Michael Turner-" she stopped to look at the other jockey, "-if he would like to ride for our stable. He was worried because we only would have you to ride for us after he left." She smiled at Aiden before looking at Michael, "Mike here has agreed to ride one of our horses in a workout so I can see if I like his riding style. Mike, this is Aiden, our jockey." Michael nodded, smiling slightly, "Nice to meet you, Aiden." He held out his hand and Aiden shook it slowly. "You too," Aiden muttered.

Aiden turned to look at Hailey, "So may I ask, why did I have to bring two horses along if he's just trying Meester out?" Hailey attempted to lighten the mood with a soft laugh, "Oh, Aiden, I was hoping you could ride Meester alongside Ri and Michael. He's real experienced with the youngsters so I was hoping he could ride our green horses." Aiden felt crushed. He loved riding Ri and now Michael was just going to come in and take that from him. He immedietely felt determined to make Mike look bad. "Okay, then." He said as if he didn't care.

Mike stepped forward and asked if he could take Ri now. Aiden smiled and nodded, knowing secretly that Ri wouldn't really like someone new and go out of control. Aiden walked Meester ahead quickly, right after Mike took a hold of Ri, attempting to ignore him if he did ask for help. Aiden glanced back to catch, Ri rearing up slightly and jumping away from Mike. To Aiden's disappointment, he calmed down right back to his beastly self when Mike started to talk to him. Aiden sighed heavily and jumped onto Meester's back. Mike hopped onto Ri's back and trotted him up to Aiden's side. "So, she wants us to breeze for four furlongs out of the gate." After a few seconds of silence he continued, "How does he go out of the gate?" Aiden was about to answer but stopped quickly. He really didn't know because he never had broke him out of the gate. "Uhm... Pretty good." Mike side glanced at Aiden, but Aiden wasn't looking at him. Instead he was looking direction ahead towards the gate.

They stopped right in front of the barrier waiting for the horses in front of them to be sent off. "So what's this colt like to ride?" questioned Mike. "He's... great. I love riding him. He's got talent... it's just buried under all of those races he didn't really rally in. He needs some work... but I think he could be a Kentucky Derby contender next year if all goes well... I mean that's what I think of him." Mike nodded, "That's real interesting. I bet he could be... Got the pedigree all right." Aiden nodded slowly and happily moved Meester forward into the stall. He went in willingly enough but Aiden had knowledge of how much Meester hated the gate. He also knew that this horse comes out like a rocket, usually leaving the feild behind before getting him to settle behind the leaders. Aiden turned to watch Mike and Ri enter the gates. Surprisingly, Ri trotted into the gate, with no trouble. He threw his head slightly as the gates closed behind him but other than that he showed no signs of fear.

Mike crouched and took hold of Ri's mane in preparation for the break. Aiden did the same, prepared for Meester's sprint from the gate. The gates opened and the starting bell rang in his ears. Meester did just as Aiden thought he would and shot from the gate like a bullet. Aiden, who was prepared to pull him up so that Ri could catch up was surprised when he saw the colt was two lengths in front of Meester and him on the rail, surging from them. Mike stood in the irons slightly pulling on Ri's mouth. The two year old threw a tantrum before slowing down to match strides with Meester. Aiden urged Meester forward, but Meester was still a neck behind Ri as they entered the far turn. Ri had mistepped and veered into Meester's side, but Meester was barely affected by the horse's lack of maturaity. Mike was now straightening him up on the rail as they passed the 1/4 pole.

Mike let out an inch of rein and was now rocking on Ri's back madly. He was urging the colt, aggresively and Ri was responding like he did out of the gate. Aiden started rocking on Meester's back as well, but Meester barely held onto the green horse, who was surging away, gamely. Aiden swung his whip across Meester's side wildly but he faded from Ri, too quickly. The colt crossed under wire and Mike stood in the irons, while Meester galloped under, one length behind Ri. Meester passed up Ri, who was trotting around the turn, while Meester was still at full blown gallop. Mike was grinning and turned Ri around, heading back toward Hailey and Beck. Aiden snapped the whip against his leg in annoyance. As Aiden approached the others, he overheard them talking. Hailey was speaking, "That was fabulous. You didn't even use the whip on him! Your hired, Mike! Of course, If you would like to come ride for us." Mike was laughing, "Of course. With a two year old like this one, I wouldn't mind coming to work for your stable. I've also heard you got an impressive yearling on your hands?" Aiden face fell as he jumped off Meester. "You did well too, Mr. Smith. Meester seems like he's improving." Hailey smiled reassuringly. "What was the time?" Aiden spoke immedietly. Hailey grinned and looked back to Mike, "Ri came in at :50.40... Very impressively." Aiden nodded, "Good. I am glad that Ri's doing so good."

Aiden stepped forward and asked Mike if he could take Ri. Mike nodded, and hopped off. "I am going to go put them away." He announced before leading the colts off towards the stable. "You did amazing, Ri." he patted the colt's neck and glanced back to the group grimly to catch Hailey shaking hands with Mike. "You'll be a great racehorse with him on your back."


turf track; 4 furlongs
words; 1219