Post by Cruisey on Oct 9, 2015 14:09:33 GMT -5
Barely Smokin && Talia Smith [BC Juvenile Workout]
Coco Cabana && Devon Blackthorn [BC Marathon Workout]
Frost dotted the paddocks and fence lines as a sleepy Carter drove the trailer up to the Green Horse track. The drive had been a long one due to an early morning accident on the highway to the track. He was pulling the four horse trailer behind his truck, with the rest of the Firestone barn coming in a transport truck later in the day. Parking the trailer in front of their rented stalls, he cut the engine and climbed out, Talia Smith and Devon Blackthorn following behind him. The first load of horses consisted of juveniles Barely Smokin and Innerstellar, along with Coco Cabana and Speak Easy and Harley’s companion animals in the box stall in the middle. Rolo and Tank were the first to come out, which caused Harley to start thrashing about in the trailer. Carter ran a hand through his hair, shaking his head at the juvenile.
Slipping the chain over Harley’s nose, he led the bay horse out of the trailer and headed straight for his buddies. Half-dragging Carter down the aisle, he handed the horse off to one of their grooms who had come separately. Devon had a firm grip on Tyler as he lunged out of the trailer, legs lashing out at whoever was near. Devon spoke softly to the horse, who somewhat calmed down enough for the jockey to lead him into a stall. The other two unloaded without a problem and looked at the juveniles as if they were crazy. Sonny and Tyler were two that weren’t working out until later in the week, but Carter figured to bring them over while they had time.
After a few hours of letting Harley and Coco settle in, the sun was almost high in the sky but luckily the air was cool in December. The two bay colts were tacked up and were being led over to the dirt track, followed closely by Rolo, Tank, Carter, and the two jockeys. Clockers were already in their towers, watching the current workouts and waiting for them to finish. Reporters lined the sides of the track, trying to get a glimpse of the top horses in the country that were all aiming to be a Breeders’ Cup champion. This was not Firestone’s first Breeders Cup, and it certainly would not be their last, but this year their string was hot and bursting for that first BC win. Barely Smokin was one of the top horses in his class and age group in Carter’s opinion. Strong, powerful, and bubbling with great HOTY exposure, he was a hopeful to win the Juvenile Dirt. Of course, Carter couldn’t possibly overlook the other fantastic group of juveniles being sent from other barns. While Coco Cabana was not a probable favourite, he had made a name for himself and had gotten himself a much better record than last year. This year, he had done well in both undercard and HOTY races, which should set him up nicely for a good trip in the Marathon.
Giving the two jockeys a leg up, Carter grabbed onto both horses’ bridles and turned to face the two jockeys. “Six furlongs, easy on the first three then let them go. See if Harley can lead and let Coco catch him.” Carter knew both horses could handle the distance fine, and he had decided to change his tactic from last year a little bit. Harley had gotten two weeks off after his run in the Louisiana Legacy, and Coco put in a good run in the 11F Honourable Stakes the week before. Letting go of their bridles, he sent them out onto the track. Photographers and reporters ran to the fence at the sight of two new horses onto the track as Carter made himself comfortable in the no-reporters zone. He had already had a few come up to him asking about his entries, whom he refused to comment until he had seen his horses run.
Talia and Devon rode side by side, the two horses matched in size and stride. They were almost identical if you didn’t count the white markings on their faces. Coco cantered quietly on the outside of Harley, who had his neck curled, excitement and mischief gleaming in his eyes. The warm up to the gates was simple and somewhat relaxed, Harley occasionally wanting to lunge at Coco, but Talia kept him in line. Bringing them back to a walk, Talia lowered her goggles onto her face, and Devon did the same, adjusting his seat in the saddle as Coco was led into the gates first. Harley hesitated a little at the start, but with a few encouraging words and a nudge from Talia he stepped into the chute. Everything was quiet except for the sound of the horses shuffling in the gates, bumping into the metal every so often. Both jockeys grabbed a piece of black mane and prepared for the first burst of speed. Looking over to each other, they both nodded, and the gates opened with a crash.
Harley stumbled out of the gates, but was quick to regain his footing as Coco pushed ahead. Talia muttered a curse as she asked Harley to move up. Devon snuck a look behind him and noticed Harley trailing and asked Coco to slow down. The stallion protested, confused as to why he was being asked to steady back. They were, after all, supposed to go easy the first three furlongs. Harley was quick to catch up though as the younger horse was brought up beside his counterpart. They were galloping at an even pace, their breathing in sync as they blew through the first furlong. Talia was not crouched very far over Harley’s neck, keeping the pace steady, not wanting Harley to burn too much energy. Coco pinned his ears at the young colt, his long strides put him a nose in front, but Devon asked him to slow it down a bit. Coco tossed his head and slowed down reluctantly, letting Harley poke a head in front.
Two furlongs had passed and both jockeys asked their horses to start opening up. Being a seasoned racer, Coco responded almost instantly, but Devon noticed Harley not responding to Talia. When she asked, Harley just pinned his ears at her, keeping the pace that he had. Coco flew past them and was in front by half a body. Carter watched as Coco was pulling away, confusion written on his face. He closed his eyes, resting his head in his hands. What was she doing out there? Carter thought to himself as Coco put more distance between the two. He could see her use the stick on the juvenile, but no response was given. Reporters were furiously writing things down and Carter couldn’t help but have a sinking feeling in his stomach.
Talia kept on asking Harley for more, but he wasn’t listening. There were two furlongs left in their run and Coco was now ahead by three lengths. Talia was just about to give up when Harley kicked into action, almost taking her out of the saddle if she didn’t keep herself centred. His legs were pumping hard as he lowered his body to the ground. His jockey crouched lower, pumping his neck with her hands. Devon was so focused on letting Coco run that he didn’t notice the juvenile sneak up on him. Coco was flickering his ears back and forth, listening to his jockey’s next move and keeping a close eye on the upcoming horse. A smile was creeping up on Talia’s face as Harley gained ground, and he gained it fast. Within a couple of seconds, he was at Coco’s flank. One furlong left, and the finish was in sight.
Both jockeys asked for more as each stride brought them closer to the wire. Devon waved the stick at Coco, and the horse responded with a final stretch burst of speed. Harley wasn’t about to let the older horse take over once again, and with encouragement from Talia he sunk into the dirt, driving hard. Legs worked like pistons on both horses, and Carter watched Harley gain a ton of ground. The two horses were just a brown blur and a flurry of legs as they crossed the wire. He wasn’t sure who had come out on top. He was afraid to look over at the reporters, but he snuck in a glance and could see they were all whispering violently to each other. Could be a good thing, could be a bad thing. He thought.
Standing in their stirrups, smiles were plastered on both jockey’s faces as they started to pull their mounts up, letting them cool out in a canter, then in a trot. Sweat lathered both horses’ necks as they were brought up to their trainer. Talia and Devon jumped off instantly, loosening their girths. They both praised their mounts, patting them quickly before handing them off to be cooled out properly.
“Keep it up that way, they’re both gonna be real big threats come race day. Talia, what was up with Harley?” Carter praised. Talia’s smile dropped slightly.
“I dunno, boss. He wasn’t listening, maybe it was his way of telling me ‘not yet man!’ Did you see that burst of speed, though? If he does that in the race, we’re guaranteed a great place.” She beamed. Carter nodded thoughtfully.
“How did Coco feel?” He turned to Devon. The small man smiled.
“He felt awesome. A little reluctant to steady but once I let him go he really felt it. He’s ready I think.” Carter nodded his approval.
“Alright then, I’ll meet you back at the barn. Great runs.”
Slipping the chain over Harley’s nose, he led the bay horse out of the trailer and headed straight for his buddies. Half-dragging Carter down the aisle, he handed the horse off to one of their grooms who had come separately. Devon had a firm grip on Tyler as he lunged out of the trailer, legs lashing out at whoever was near. Devon spoke softly to the horse, who somewhat calmed down enough for the jockey to lead him into a stall. The other two unloaded without a problem and looked at the juveniles as if they were crazy. Sonny and Tyler were two that weren’t working out until later in the week, but Carter figured to bring them over while they had time.
After a few hours of letting Harley and Coco settle in, the sun was almost high in the sky but luckily the air was cool in December. The two bay colts were tacked up and were being led over to the dirt track, followed closely by Rolo, Tank, Carter, and the two jockeys. Clockers were already in their towers, watching the current workouts and waiting for them to finish. Reporters lined the sides of the track, trying to get a glimpse of the top horses in the country that were all aiming to be a Breeders’ Cup champion. This was not Firestone’s first Breeders Cup, and it certainly would not be their last, but this year their string was hot and bursting for that first BC win. Barely Smokin was one of the top horses in his class and age group in Carter’s opinion. Strong, powerful, and bubbling with great HOTY exposure, he was a hopeful to win the Juvenile Dirt. Of course, Carter couldn’t possibly overlook the other fantastic group of juveniles being sent from other barns. While Coco Cabana was not a probable favourite, he had made a name for himself and had gotten himself a much better record than last year. This year, he had done well in both undercard and HOTY races, which should set him up nicely for a good trip in the Marathon.
Giving the two jockeys a leg up, Carter grabbed onto both horses’ bridles and turned to face the two jockeys. “Six furlongs, easy on the first three then let them go. See if Harley can lead and let Coco catch him.” Carter knew both horses could handle the distance fine, and he had decided to change his tactic from last year a little bit. Harley had gotten two weeks off after his run in the Louisiana Legacy, and Coco put in a good run in the 11F Honourable Stakes the week before. Letting go of their bridles, he sent them out onto the track. Photographers and reporters ran to the fence at the sight of two new horses onto the track as Carter made himself comfortable in the no-reporters zone. He had already had a few come up to him asking about his entries, whom he refused to comment until he had seen his horses run.
Talia and Devon rode side by side, the two horses matched in size and stride. They were almost identical if you didn’t count the white markings on their faces. Coco cantered quietly on the outside of Harley, who had his neck curled, excitement and mischief gleaming in his eyes. The warm up to the gates was simple and somewhat relaxed, Harley occasionally wanting to lunge at Coco, but Talia kept him in line. Bringing them back to a walk, Talia lowered her goggles onto her face, and Devon did the same, adjusting his seat in the saddle as Coco was led into the gates first. Harley hesitated a little at the start, but with a few encouraging words and a nudge from Talia he stepped into the chute. Everything was quiet except for the sound of the horses shuffling in the gates, bumping into the metal every so often. Both jockeys grabbed a piece of black mane and prepared for the first burst of speed. Looking over to each other, they both nodded, and the gates opened with a crash.
Harley stumbled out of the gates, but was quick to regain his footing as Coco pushed ahead. Talia muttered a curse as she asked Harley to move up. Devon snuck a look behind him and noticed Harley trailing and asked Coco to slow down. The stallion protested, confused as to why he was being asked to steady back. They were, after all, supposed to go easy the first three furlongs. Harley was quick to catch up though as the younger horse was brought up beside his counterpart. They were galloping at an even pace, their breathing in sync as they blew through the first furlong. Talia was not crouched very far over Harley’s neck, keeping the pace steady, not wanting Harley to burn too much energy. Coco pinned his ears at the young colt, his long strides put him a nose in front, but Devon asked him to slow it down a bit. Coco tossed his head and slowed down reluctantly, letting Harley poke a head in front.
Two furlongs had passed and both jockeys asked their horses to start opening up. Being a seasoned racer, Coco responded almost instantly, but Devon noticed Harley not responding to Talia. When she asked, Harley just pinned his ears at her, keeping the pace that he had. Coco flew past them and was in front by half a body. Carter watched as Coco was pulling away, confusion written on his face. He closed his eyes, resting his head in his hands. What was she doing out there? Carter thought to himself as Coco put more distance between the two. He could see her use the stick on the juvenile, but no response was given. Reporters were furiously writing things down and Carter couldn’t help but have a sinking feeling in his stomach.
Talia kept on asking Harley for more, but he wasn’t listening. There were two furlongs left in their run and Coco was now ahead by three lengths. Talia was just about to give up when Harley kicked into action, almost taking her out of the saddle if she didn’t keep herself centred. His legs were pumping hard as he lowered his body to the ground. His jockey crouched lower, pumping his neck with her hands. Devon was so focused on letting Coco run that he didn’t notice the juvenile sneak up on him. Coco was flickering his ears back and forth, listening to his jockey’s next move and keeping a close eye on the upcoming horse. A smile was creeping up on Talia’s face as Harley gained ground, and he gained it fast. Within a couple of seconds, he was at Coco’s flank. One furlong left, and the finish was in sight.
Both jockeys asked for more as each stride brought them closer to the wire. Devon waved the stick at Coco, and the horse responded with a final stretch burst of speed. Harley wasn’t about to let the older horse take over once again, and with encouragement from Talia he sunk into the dirt, driving hard. Legs worked like pistons on both horses, and Carter watched Harley gain a ton of ground. The two horses were just a brown blur and a flurry of legs as they crossed the wire. He wasn’t sure who had come out on top. He was afraid to look over at the reporters, but he snuck in a glance and could see they were all whispering violently to each other. Could be a good thing, could be a bad thing. He thought.
Standing in their stirrups, smiles were plastered on both jockey’s faces as they started to pull their mounts up, letting them cool out in a canter, then in a trot. Sweat lathered both horses’ necks as they were brought up to their trainer. Talia and Devon jumped off instantly, loosening their girths. They both praised their mounts, patting them quickly before handing them off to be cooled out properly.
“Keep it up that way, they’re both gonna be real big threats come race day. Talia, what was up with Harley?” Carter praised. Talia’s smile dropped slightly.
“I dunno, boss. He wasn’t listening, maybe it was his way of telling me ‘not yet man!’ Did you see that burst of speed, though? If he does that in the race, we’re guaranteed a great place.” She beamed. Carter nodded thoughtfully.
“How did Coco feel?” He turned to Devon. The small man smiled.
“He felt awesome. A little reluctant to steady but once I let him go he really felt it. He’s ready I think.” Carter nodded his approval.
“Alright then, I’ll meet you back at the barn. Great runs.”