Post by Cruisey on Sept 15, 2015 10:45:48 GMT -5
LIKE A LADY && SAMMIE PICKETT
With TERROR SMILE as a partner
Mission: Champagne Stakes
The morning was gloomy with a heavy overcast that blotted out the sunrise. It was still a little dark, being very earlier in the morning. Most of the other owners, jockeys, and trainers were still asleep, but not the staff of Firestone Racing. They had woken up early enough to get a nice, cool, workout in for the two horses that would be racing at different tracks within the next few weeks. Like A Lady was on a fantastic trip, hot off a win in the 2nd leg of the Turf Challenge and was ready to defend her title. Her partner for the workout was none other than Terror Smile. The gray mare had been brought out from the breeding shed and was amped up on her way to the track.
Lady moved restlessly, side-stepping down the path to the track. Sammie grabbed a tighter and firmer hold on her reins, soothing the fiery bay filly. Devon had mounted Smiles easily, the grey mare taking everything as it was coming. The small mare snorted, her eyes lit and ears pricked forward. After a few words from Carter, Lady broke into a slow canter down the stretch of the track before Sammie could get a good hold of her. Devon wrapped the reins in his hands and let Smiles follow in a slow canter after the younger horse.
At Firestone, the woods and trees loomed in the distance, but all the two jockeys could see was a dark blob. Sammie could feel Lady shivering with excitement underneath her seat; the bay filly’s movements were lightning swift and graceful carrying her to the start of the workout. Smiles seemed still half-asleep, but Devon knew that she was just seasoned and it would be nothing to worry about seeing as she would go straight back to the stud farm. He was right; as soon as they stepped forth to meet Lady, Devon turned her to face the track and he could feel the mare vibrating to life.
No gate was going to be used, and as soon as Smiles was lined up with Lady, the dark bay filly shot away, catching Sammie totally off guard. She lost her stirrup, but soon regained balance grabbing onto the black mane in front of her. She lowered into a crouch position on her back, letting the filly find her pace on the turf. Smiles did not have the stamina Lady possessed after all the time off at the farm and hung back, letting the younger horse take the lead. What Devon started to noticed was that Lady was surging away quickly, when the plan was to keep the two together. He fanned the whip at Smile's side just to get her going a bit faster.
They were approaching the turn fast and Smiles was still surging forwards, but Devon could see she was running out of stamina. Her time off had really taken a toll on her, so Devon just let her go at her own pace, forgetting about the juvenile ahead of them. Sammie could hold her own, and he knew Lady had no problems on race day.
Lady was rounding the turn now coming onto the stretch. Sammie fanned the whip across her side and then tapped her slightly on the rump. Sammie found her hands being pulled by the young horse, who was taking the bit between her teeth. Lady thundered down the track, her eyes blazing with determination. Terror Smile was cruising along behind her, but wasn’t about to lose more distance between the two. She puffed down the track, breathing laboured, but she galloped on despite Devon’s urging of steadying. Sammie held on tight, glancing behind her at Devon, and then stared forward to the wire, her eyes blurred by the wind.
Like A Lady pounded underneath the wire an entire three lengths in front of Smiles. Devon had already pulled his mare up and dismounted by the time Sammie was getting control of Lady. She turned her around to gallop up to Devon and Carter, who were waiting for them. Sammie stayed mounted, patting Lady’s sweat covered neck. Carter smiled up at them, nodding his head in approval. Despite Smiles’ breathing, she looked ecstatic to be back on the track.
