Post by Cruisey on Mar 13, 2015 20:39:21 GMT -5
LIKE A LADY && SAMMIE PICKETT
SCINTILLA && JAMES COLLURA
Sammie and James had been up since 4:30AM exercising the many horses of Firestone Racing, and the current two were one of their first groups of the day. Like A Lady, nicknamed Lady, was waiting, perfectly awake, alive, and very angry. She had given the grooms a hard time earlier, and even made a statement on one of their shoulders with her teeth. The small bay mare pinned her ears, and with a fiery snort she tossed her mane at the approaching filly. Scintilla was being led by one of the grooms, quiet as a lamb. Her temperament compared to Lady’s was mellow and relaxed, she liked to take things step by step and give it her all. Lady was a mean-spirited firecracker; anything could set her off, especially the sight of another mare. Lady wanted to lunge at Tilly, but was held back by her jockey. Sammie mounted and Lady began to paw at the ground.
“Hell hath no fury than a two year old filly, eh Sammie?” James called from aboard Tilly, who was watching the small blonde girl try to control the horse. Sammie rolled her eyes, scratching Lady on the neck.
“The quiet ones are boring, at least they make it fun for me.” She retorted as they walked out onto the turf. Today's run would be easier on her than the last. Seven furlongs was the more preferred workout by the two, and still on their favourite surface; turf. They both needed some refining to do, but they had already made an extremely good effort on the track. Both raced four times over the months of January and February, and it was all just starting. Tilly had a 100% placing percentage, whereas Lady only placed out of the money once, earning her a 75% place percentage. The two were going to be one of the most dominant horses in the 2 year old turf division, and Carter was excited for them to really bloom.
They trotted off towards the gates, the sun shining down upon the two youngsters. It was an extremely warm April day, and the days were bound to get hotter. Tilly’s coal black coat shone with the early signs of perspiration as they made their way around the track for their warm up. Lady had her ears pinned the whole time, eyeing the black filly beside her.
Both fillies went into the gate with a little bit of complaining, but nothing that the experienced jockeys couldn't handle. It was a waiting game as they anticipated the snap of the gates, which game a moment later. Lady bolted right from the get-go, and Tilly was following suit. Lady was a born front runner, and boy did she know it. She seemed surprised when Sammie asked her to come back a little, letting her conserve her power for a bit further down in the mock race. Tilly settled in behind the bay filly, cruising along at her own speed like she was hanging around in the middle of the field where she was comfortable.
Lady tossed her head suddenly, leaping forwards. Four and a half furlongs went by, and Tilly wanted to go. James tried to hold her for another furlong behind Lady, but gave up when they galloped past the five marker where he let Tilly's competitive nature take over. Sammie could see Tilly tearing up the turf behind her, and Lady snorted and pulled the reins in response to the oncoming black blur.
Without any words, Lady snatched the reins from Sammie’s grip and took matters into her own hands. The two year old was smart…maybe too smart for her own good. Tilly was gaining on them fast and she was soon up to her flank. James didn’t need to press the black filly, but he had the whip ready just in case. Lady flicked her tail in Tilly’s direction as they surged on down the backstretch in a dark blur. Too soon, they crossed the finish marker in a solid time of 1:28.03. Both fillies were still snorting, eager for more. Now that they’d started, the two horses didn't want to stop, which would be an asset as soon as they were turned onto a field.
