Post by Cruisey on Mar 21, 2015 19:01:55 GMT -5
COCO CABANA && DEVON BLACKTHORN
GHOST RIDER && SAMMIE PICKETT
GHOST RIDER && SAMMIE PICKETT
The workout plan for the next two was simple. A five furlong gallop, side by side. Not allowing either horse to edge in front of the other, not allowing them to even go for it in the final stretch. They would finish nose on nose, leaving both hungry for competition and desperate for a win. The horses that were participating were chestnut mare, Ghost Rider. Alongside her was the stallion that Carter was extremely confused about, Coco Cabana. Gia was one win away from grade three, something that Carter thought would take a while to receive. And then there was Coco, who should have been at least a Grade Two by now, was struggling to get even a win this season. The stallion no doubt had the experience and class to bulldoze the Grade Three cards, but he had managed to fall to younger horses every single time. If things went well, then he should be more than ready to run in HOTY races come April Week 3. Carter and Devon could not guarantee that he would win, but they could guarantee that he would try.
Carter had decided that for this workout, the gates would be used. He wanted to see Devon push Coco to keep speed with the Mid-Pack horse in front of him. Both Devon and Sammie would have their work cut out for them, keeping them together, but he knew they could do it. Gating was simple; the two horses were more than used to the contraption and did not kick up a fuss. They waited side by side as the anticipation of the break hung in the air. They knew this was going to be difficult, they knew that their horses would not be happy at the end of this workout, and they knew that this was going to work to their advantage. Devon fixed his eyes on the track as Coco shifted anxiously underneath him. Gia was quiet for Sammie, as she always was, but her eyes held a spark that could light a match.
The buzzer sounded, the gates opened, and the horses were out. Gia had a slight lead over Coco as they started; used to running further forwards in the field but Sammie reined her in while Devon urged Coco until they were running in sync. Devon could feel the stallion wanting to drop back, but he kept a firm hand on the crop and tapped him a little bit on the shoulder. If Coco could buck, he would. The frustration was clear and written all over the horses’ face. Sammie had the opposite problem, with Gia trying to speed up to keep pace with her non-existing front runners.
Overall, the pace set was around average and the battle of the horses continued for quite a while. Neither horse was happy with the situation, but they seemed to begin to understand that they would not win any argument and started to settle in after around three furlongs. Stride for stride, the horses continued up the track, leaving a cloud of dust behind them. Devon and Sammie allowed the pace to increase just a smidge, but then held the horses back. This time, they really did meet some complaints. It was not in the nature of these Thoroughbreds to take the final stages of a race so lightly; they did not want to run side by side as they came up to the post. Coco was fighting the restraints that Devon was putting on him more than Gia was fighting Sammie as they crossed the wire together. Coco was a ticking time bomb underneath Devon that was ready to explode at any second, which normally wasn’t in his nature. His jockey hoped that this anger would lead to a win next time out. Gia was a usually lazy horse, so the whole staying back thing didn’t faze her that much, but she was still annoyed at the thought of taking it easy on the stretch. Hopefully she would come out strong in her next race.
Carter had decided that for this workout, the gates would be used. He wanted to see Devon push Coco to keep speed with the Mid-Pack horse in front of him. Both Devon and Sammie would have their work cut out for them, keeping them together, but he knew they could do it. Gating was simple; the two horses were more than used to the contraption and did not kick up a fuss. They waited side by side as the anticipation of the break hung in the air. They knew this was going to be difficult, they knew that their horses would not be happy at the end of this workout, and they knew that this was going to work to their advantage. Devon fixed his eyes on the track as Coco shifted anxiously underneath him. Gia was quiet for Sammie, as she always was, but her eyes held a spark that could light a match.
The buzzer sounded, the gates opened, and the horses were out. Gia had a slight lead over Coco as they started; used to running further forwards in the field but Sammie reined her in while Devon urged Coco until they were running in sync. Devon could feel the stallion wanting to drop back, but he kept a firm hand on the crop and tapped him a little bit on the shoulder. If Coco could buck, he would. The frustration was clear and written all over the horses’ face. Sammie had the opposite problem, with Gia trying to speed up to keep pace with her non-existing front runners.
Overall, the pace set was around average and the battle of the horses continued for quite a while. Neither horse was happy with the situation, but they seemed to begin to understand that they would not win any argument and started to settle in after around three furlongs. Stride for stride, the horses continued up the track, leaving a cloud of dust behind them. Devon and Sammie allowed the pace to increase just a smidge, but then held the horses back. This time, they really did meet some complaints. It was not in the nature of these Thoroughbreds to take the final stages of a race so lightly; they did not want to run side by side as they came up to the post. Coco was fighting the restraints that Devon was putting on him more than Gia was fighting Sammie as they crossed the wire together. Coco was a ticking time bomb underneath Devon that was ready to explode at any second, which normally wasn’t in his nature. His jockey hoped that this anger would lead to a win next time out. Gia was a usually lazy horse, so the whole staying back thing didn’t faze her that much, but she was still annoyed at the thought of taking it easy on the stretch. Hopefully she would come out strong in her next race.
