Post by flatcreek on Jul 2, 2012 10:55:56 GMT -5
FRENCH EMPIRE & ALEX SMITH FOR JANUARY MAIDEN DIRT
Alex watched as he held Superman. The colt was throwing his head and moving all over the place. He knew what happened when Alex was there and he was being tacked up. “Alex, we are taking him six furlongs today, a fast blowout. Break him from the gate and let him go.” John, Superman’s trainer said when he walked over. Alex nodded. He had studied the other that had been entered in the January Maiden Dirt at ten furlongs so far. Seeking Stardom was a Stalker/Closer with a distance range of 9-12 furlongs. Predator was a Closer/Frontrunner with a range of 8-11 furlongs that had beaten Superman before. He was a horse to watch in this race, for sure. Candid Silver was a Mid Packer with a distance range of 7-10. Santana’s Gold was another Mid Packer, with a distance range of 9-12. Beyond Perfection was a Frontrunner/Stalker with a distance range of 9-12. Perfect Moment was a 8-11 furlong Mid Packer that had only run once as a three year old. He would be fresh off his break, which was something to take into consideration. Imma Zombie was a 8-11 furlong Frontrunner. Alex decided that since Superman was the only Preceder that wouldn’t run another position, he would try to stay in front of any of the horses that decided to run Preceder instead of another position. He had talked with John and he had agreed that staying close to the frontrunners was their best strategy.
John gave Alex a leg up onto Superman. The colt was ready to run, for sure. Alex gathered his reins and asked the colt to walk over to the track. It was a challenge, since all Superman wanted to do was run full speed. “Hey, now. You can do that in the race. We are just walking now.” Superman flicked his ears back at Alex. He stopped pulling on the reins-for now at least.
Now that Superman knew that he got to run when he went into the gate, he walked easily in, unlike when he was first introduced to the gate. He threw fits and gave the assistant starters nightmares. Alex stroked the colt. “Good boy. You can run now.” The gates opened and Superman broke well. Alex urged him on, the work was only six furlongs and John wanted fast. Superman would have to show his speed and stamina in his upcoming race, and this work was to hone his speed and keep him in shape. Superman was striding out well and moving easily like Alex had wanted. Alex clucked and let out a notch on the reins, asking for more speed. Superman replied quickly and easily, lengthening his stride. Alex figured that they had gone the two furlongs in about :24 flat, a good, solid time.
For the next two furlongs, Alex held Superman to the same pace, finishing four furlongs is about :48 flat. With two furlongs left to run, Alex let Superman out more, not going a blinding pace, but slightly faster than the previous four furlongs. Superman replied readily, moving faster with each stride. Alex loved Superman’s stride. It was long and smooth, exactly what he thought a good stride should feel like. The finish was coming up, but Superman still was moving easily. Alex clucked, urging him to run even faster for the next few strides. Superman obliged and ran yet faster.
“Easy. Easy, bud.” Alex said as he pulled up Superman. The colt fought, shaking his head and trying to grab the bit. When Superman stopped, Alex dismounted. He was surprised to see that the colt had hardly broke a sweat. Sure, it wasn’t exactly warm outside, but he had worked hard. Many horses would have worked up a sweat. John ducked under the track fence. "That was great, Alex. What do you think he ran?” Alex rubbed Superman’s head. “Oh, 1:11 and change or so.” John grabbed the reins to hold Superman so Alex could unsaddle him. “Went 1:11 2/5. It was just what he needed. He will be sharp for his next race, with his short break and this work. He gained weight, all muscle, and filled out since November. Just give him a good trip and he will run for you, Alex.”
Alex watched as he held Superman. The colt was throwing his head and moving all over the place. He knew what happened when Alex was there and he was being tacked up. “Alex, we are taking him six furlongs today, a fast blowout. Break him from the gate and let him go.” John, Superman’s trainer said when he walked over. Alex nodded. He had studied the other that had been entered in the January Maiden Dirt at ten furlongs so far. Seeking Stardom was a Stalker/Closer with a distance range of 9-12 furlongs. Predator was a Closer/Frontrunner with a range of 8-11 furlongs that had beaten Superman before. He was a horse to watch in this race, for sure. Candid Silver was a Mid Packer with a distance range of 7-10. Santana’s Gold was another Mid Packer, with a distance range of 9-12. Beyond Perfection was a Frontrunner/Stalker with a distance range of 9-12. Perfect Moment was a 8-11 furlong Mid Packer that had only run once as a three year old. He would be fresh off his break, which was something to take into consideration. Imma Zombie was a 8-11 furlong Frontrunner. Alex decided that since Superman was the only Preceder that wouldn’t run another position, he would try to stay in front of any of the horses that decided to run Preceder instead of another position. He had talked with John and he had agreed that staying close to the frontrunners was their best strategy.
John gave Alex a leg up onto Superman. The colt was ready to run, for sure. Alex gathered his reins and asked the colt to walk over to the track. It was a challenge, since all Superman wanted to do was run full speed. “Hey, now. You can do that in the race. We are just walking now.” Superman flicked his ears back at Alex. He stopped pulling on the reins-for now at least.
Now that Superman knew that he got to run when he went into the gate, he walked easily in, unlike when he was first introduced to the gate. He threw fits and gave the assistant starters nightmares. Alex stroked the colt. “Good boy. You can run now.” The gates opened and Superman broke well. Alex urged him on, the work was only six furlongs and John wanted fast. Superman would have to show his speed and stamina in his upcoming race, and this work was to hone his speed and keep him in shape. Superman was striding out well and moving easily like Alex had wanted. Alex clucked and let out a notch on the reins, asking for more speed. Superman replied quickly and easily, lengthening his stride. Alex figured that they had gone the two furlongs in about :24 flat, a good, solid time.
For the next two furlongs, Alex held Superman to the same pace, finishing four furlongs is about :48 flat. With two furlongs left to run, Alex let Superman out more, not going a blinding pace, but slightly faster than the previous four furlongs. Superman replied readily, moving faster with each stride. Alex loved Superman’s stride. It was long and smooth, exactly what he thought a good stride should feel like. The finish was coming up, but Superman still was moving easily. Alex clucked, urging him to run even faster for the next few strides. Superman obliged and ran yet faster.
“Easy. Easy, bud.” Alex said as he pulled up Superman. The colt fought, shaking his head and trying to grab the bit. When Superman stopped, Alex dismounted. He was surprised to see that the colt had hardly broke a sweat. Sure, it wasn’t exactly warm outside, but he had worked hard. Many horses would have worked up a sweat. John ducked under the track fence. "That was great, Alex. What do you think he ran?” Alex rubbed Superman’s head. “Oh, 1:11 and change or so.” John grabbed the reins to hold Superman so Alex could unsaddle him. “Went 1:11 2/5. It was just what he needed. He will be sharp for his next race, with his short break and this work. He gained weight, all muscle, and filled out since November. Just give him a good trip and he will run for you, Alex.”
>>Words: 711
>>Distance: 6 F
>>Surface: Dirt