chocolatier

[Cruisey]

COCO CABANA && DEVON BLACKTHORN

When a new year comes, new challenges come with it. Carter, however, was confident. When Coco Cabana had come to Firestone, he was a lanky, lightly raced grade five colt. With only 8 races under his name, there was nothing really ‘special’ about the bay; a 4th place finish in the Blue Grass Stakes and a two wins was all he had. Within months, the colt had grown up and matured into a nice looking grade three contender. It hadn’t been the easiest of journeys for Coco and his jockey Devon. At one point they were running nothing but fourth place finishes, with the odd win thrown in there when it counted. This season, however, something was about to change.

The bright eyed bay colt looked over the dirt track, almost following the gaze of his jockey. His first race of the season was in the Unicorn Horn Dirt Classic, not one of the easiest races but Carter didn’t doubt the horse at all. He was known because of his Hall of Famer mother, but it was time to show the world what Coco Cabana was really made of.

“Seven furlongs on the dirt, lets show them what he's got. Keep him at his closing pace; don’t push it until he’s ready. When he is, he will tell you.” Devon nodded, and they set up for the gate. While energetic, Coco's movements were solid and well balanced. He didn't need to worry about where or how the colt was going to step next; the bay knew how to handle himself. Coco almost seemed to float above the ground when he walked, carrying his head high and mighty.

Going into the gate was relatively easy, and Coco took it well. He'd always shown a good deal of sensibility about the gate, he was a clever colt even with all the hormones and testosterone. He seemed to have a more mature sense about him as a four year old, nothing like some of the others who were just starting to show matureness.

The brisk January wind went straight through Devon’s clothes, sending a shiver up his spine. In a second, the gates sprung open and with them came Coco. He broke slower and moved in near the rail, taking up his position at the back. The frontrunners Anodyne and Sweet Inferno would probably be right up against the rail, with mid-runners Maliah and A Royal Legacy right against their shoulders. In the back would be Limited Edition and Coco hot on their tails.

They thundered down the dirt, and Devon held Coco steady. He could feel the power the colt had; it was almost more than it had ever been last season. The curve came up fast, and the two took it fast but gracefully. They were six furlongs in now, and it was time to get moving. Devon waited to give him the stick until the colt was ready, and he was more than ready. Giving him more of his head, the colt in return gave him speed. And he ran, ran straight past Limited Edition, right past Maliah and A Royal Legacy. He would burst past those two frontrunners and keep the gap between himself and those behind him, and with a little bit of talent and skill, he would come to a finish in the winner’s circle. The ground and sky blurred as the speed intensified, Coco’s legs pushing faster than they had ever pushed before as they crossed their marker in a blur of brown.