Post by Kenren on Sept 1, 2015 20:44:57 GMT -5
Santana's Legend & Vivien Charron for the AJC Sires Produce Stakes
Vivien stood outside the barn with Santana's Legend, idly tickling the filly's lips as they waited for Cole to emerge from the barn. Ana lipped at his fingers, forelip wiggling after them when they retreated, completely occupied by his distraction despite being tacked up and ready for her breeze. Vivien could hardly believe sometimes how good-natured she was - she had her quirks, of course, but she was always so eager to be around people and to train for the day that it was fairly unusual. However, perhaps it was that eagerness for attention and to please that was making her an absolute rockstar on the track this year. While she sometimes had trouble pushing up to first in a race, it wasn't because she wasn't driven enough or strong enough - she was simply running the hardest races against the hardest competition, and things didn't always shake out exactly the way they wanted it to. It was the same in the big field for the Golden Slipper, where Ana had done phenomenally well to hold on for second against such a strong field. Now she was preparing for the AJC Sires Produce, and Vivien was even more optimistic about her chances. The more length that was added to the races, the bigger the chance Ana had of taking it - and she'd already been a huge threat in the previous race.
Their work would be five furlongs, and mostly a maintenance breeze to double-check her form before going into the race. But she's been in great spirits and had kept her weight on well since the last race, and there wasn't anything to suggest that she was anywhere but the top of her class. Cole finally emerged from the barn, talking quickly on his cellphone and motioning for Vivien to walk the filly down to the track. As Cole followed them, Vivien picked up some bits of the conversation, which seemed to center around the possibility of a lease - though Vivien didn't know who it was for. Cole ended the conversation when they reached the gap, apologizing to Vivien as he turned his attention to him. "I'm trying to get things set up for next year and things are just going so damn quick," he admitted, giving the jockey a leg into the saddle. Vivien waved off his comment, though, not bothered in the least at Cole doing his job.
"Let her do as she wants out there. You and I both know she's fine, so don't push her more than she wants to go. I'd rather save her, so I don't need any sort of bullet work here." Vivien nodded, unsurprised. Since Ana was so willing, she'd go as fast as he asked, but there was no reason to test that willingness over and over. She didn't tend to have the fastest breezes, but that hadn't hindered her racing performance in the least. Vivien guided the filly out onto the turf, letting her jog off with ears pricked and eyes curiously watching the other horses on the track. She was perhaps a bit distractable in works as well, since Vivien wasn't asking her for her full attention and the vibe was so much different than race day. He got her warmed up, and finally turned her to face the rail. After checking the coast was clear, he turned her about and set her off to the rail, urging her into a gallop. She went willingly, but there was obviously not much of her own drive as they went into the turn. Vivien easily got her up to a good speed, though the filly's ears were still perked up and she never truly buckled down and flattened out as they approached the wire. He asked her for a bit more speed right at the end, and she obeyed - it was a finishing close that was European in style, and Vivien was beyond satisfied when they pulled up. From Cole's face, he was happy with it as well, and it was obvious from the bay's body language that it had hardly taken anything from her at all.
She was in good form at a good time, and she was going to rock the Turf Challenge.