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Date Posted: 04:37:04 08/22/02 Thu
Author: Susan
Subject: Working with Katie's new racers!

Susan smiled and tacked up Makin’a Fortune. “Remember me, boy?” she asked him quietly in his ear. He sniffed her for a second and then nuzzled her. The liver chestnut colt danced about as she led him to the track and she got a leg up from Katie. “He looks like he’s going to be a handful.” The owner said, cocking her right eyebrow skeptically. “Not after riding Fury. But, seriously, he is pretty good usually.” Susan laughed and started Fortune towards the track. He danced along and tossed a playful buck. Smacking him with the crop, Susan got him settled into a nice trot, his stride swift and strong. She took him for one lap at trot and then squeezed. He cantered smoothly forward, tugging on the reins. Susan sat deep and took him on a lap at canter. She took the colt to the starting gate and urged him in. He went in and Susan crouched lightly over his withers. “Alright,” she said quietly to him, “Let’s show Katie what you can do.” Fortune cocked one ear back and then the gates exploded open! Fortune dashed out and his smooth strides ate up the ground as they flew through the first furlong. Katie was staring at her stopwatch in disbelief as Fortune flew through the first 3 furlongs. Susan grinned, he still hadn’t hit top speed yet! As they began the 4th furlong, Susan gave rein and squeezed. “Go boy!” she whispered. He dug in and flew forward eagerly. As they crossed the 5 furlong marker, Susan stood in the stirrup and tugged on the reins. He dropped reluctantly to a canter and then to a trot. She guided him over to Katie and halted him. “He’s incredible! I don’t have any sprinters and he is an incredible one! Look at that time!” Katie said, showing her the stopwatch. “He’s pretty amazing. I used to work him for Mal. He’s learned not to explode at the start, to save some energy for the finish.” Susan replied, patting his flank. She smiled and took him to the barn. After he was taken care of, Susan walked into the tack room. Toby and Laura were cleaning tack and chatting. “Do you guys want to help me work with the racehorses?” Susan asked. “Yeah!” they replied and walked out of the tack room with her. “Toby you will be on Top Gun, Laura you will be on Jackpot, I’m riding Worthwhile. We are going to have a mock race with them.” Susan said. They all got their horses and began to tack up. Worthy snorted eagerly and raised his head high, not wanting to accept the bit. Susan coaxed him to come down and then slipped the bit in his mouth. “Good boy.” She praised and gave him a sugar cube. He munched contentedly as they walked toward the track. “He looks much calmer than Fortune.” Katie remarked, as she boosted her friend into the saddle. Susan started him around the track and smiled as his smooth strides carried them over the ground. His muscles rippled under his healthy, dark bay coat. Laura had mounted and was driving Jackpot around the track. The colt was a reluctant worker when he was by himself but in any kind of competition he burned up the track. Jack trotted lazily along and threw his head up in protest when Laura bumped him with her legs. She grimaced and smacked him with her crop. He sprang into a slow canter and she growled. She crouched over his withers and popped him with the crop, while driving him with her legs. He moved into a nice canter and she took him for two laps around the track. Toby was getting a leg up from his Mom, who looked worried when Top Gun tossed a few playful bucks. Toby pushed the colt onto the track and was pleased that Topper wanted speed. After everyone had warmed up, they loaded into the starting gate. Susan trotted Worthy in and out a few times to got him used to it again. He was nervous but was trying to be a gentleman about it. Laura urged Jackpot in at a walk and then let him stand. “This lazy nag is a disgrace to the name of racing!” Laura growled angrily. Topper reared nervously and balked, refusing to go in. Susan dismounted and led Worthy out. She gave his reins to a track official and helped Toby with Topper. “Stop it.” She said firmly to the colt, as he eyed the gate nervously. He followed her to it, looking nervous and then loaded with lots of encouragement. They did this a few more times and Susan slipped him a sugar cube, before mounting Worthy. Once they were all set up, they anxiously awaitied the break. The gates flew open and the three high powered TBs pounded out. Jackpot was soaring now, galloping down the track with long flying strides. He drew away from Topper and Worthy, who thundering along neck in neck. His lead drew away to 2 lengths, 3 lengths, 4 lengths. As they crossed the wire, he was 8 lengths ahead. Laura stood in her stirrups and tugged firmly on the reins. Jack dropped to a pokey, slow trot and Laura sighed. They all rode over to Katie. “They all clocked an impressive time, especially Jackpot.” She said. They all chatted and then took their mounts to the barn. After taking care of them, Susan smiled and said, “Alright, Toby will ride Bay Watch, Laura you can ride Star, and I will ride Winning Ways.” Laura smiled and rushed to Star Performance’s stall. Susan laughed and got Winner. The bright chestnut filly whickered eagerly as she was tacked up and led to the track. “She’s lovely, but a bit frisky.” Katie observed as she gave Susan a leg up. Winner nickered in agreement and bucked playfully before heading down the track. Susan smiled with pleasure and gathered a firm contact. Winner moved nicely along the track. Then Toby came out leading Bay Watch. The tall, rangy colt snorted eagerly as Toby got a leg up and then started smoothly around the track. The colt jogged nicely along, looking relaxed but alert. Watch snorted eagerly as Toby cantered him. Laura came out and Katie gave her a boost into the saddle. Star snorted eagerly and cantered along the track. After they were all warmed up, they went to the starting gates. Watch trotted in like a pro, as did Star. Winner tossed her head nervously and dug her heels into the dirt track. Susan flicked her with the crop and pushed her in, talking to the filly. “Okay, girl, let’s burn up the track!” she told the filly quietly as they sat in the gate. Winner bobbed her head in agreement and the gates flew open. Watch pulled off to an early lead, hugging the inside rail. But Winner was coming up fast. She reached Watch’s flank and Susan lowered her crouch and kneaded her hands up the filly’s neck. Winner found another gear and roared down the track, beating the competition by 10 lengths! Star hadn’t even tried. She bouncing along the track in a playful steady gallop, “STAR!” Laura yelled, trying to channel the filly’s energy into racing. But Star wasn’t listening. Susan dismounted just off the track and handed Winner’s reins to a dismounted Toby. “Can you take care of her while I do Star?” she asked. He nodded and watched as she marched over to Laura and Star. “Laura! You let her get away with that.” Susan said. Laura dismounted and Susan mounted. She gathered the filly’s reins and pushed her into the starting gate. It burst open and Susan urged Star out. She smacked her with the crop and used lots of leg to spark the racer’s interest. Star went for 6 furlongs before Susan pulled her up. “A decent time. But I’m sure that she could have done better” Katie said, looking annoyed. “Yeah, she could have but you never know. She might put in a better work out next time.” Susan said, dismounting and taking care of the filly. Then she got Lady Hawk and tacked the gorgeous dark filly up. “Good girl.” Susan said as Hawk accepted the bit. She got a leg up and then started the filly around the track. Hawk was very quiet and relaxed as she moved smoothly down the track. Her strides were long and smooth. The whip shy filly was built delicately and when running full out she always put in an awesome time. Susan cued Hawk for a canter and was pleased with a smooth, swift gait. The filly’s feet hit the track lightly. After a lap at canter, Susan slowed her to a walk and loaded her into the starting gate. “We worked on this when Mal owned you.” Susan said as the filly walked smoothly into the gate. Hawk fidgeted a little bit but stood fairly quietly awaiting the break. Then the gates burst open and Hawk flew out. She soared down the track, her long brown mane flying out behind her. Susan asked the filly for more and Hawk found another gear. She galloped lightly down the track as if she had wings. “Go girl!” Susan cried, kneading her hands along the filly’s neck. Hawk flew on, every stride seeming effortless. By the gate, Katie was watching, amazed at what she saw. After 6 furlongs, Susan stood in her stirrups and laughed as Hawk glided along in a smooth trot. She trotted the filly over to Katie and halted her. “What do you think?” Susan said. “She was incredible. She had such wonderful potential that I bought her, but that is an incredible time! Amazing!” Katie gasped. They chatted for a while and then Susan took care of Hawk before getting Miss Behavin’. The filly was nervous and hyper. “There might be major risk in taking her on the track while she’s in this mood. I think we should just hand walk her to let her get out some steam.” Susan said. Katie nodded and said, “Good idea. She is a little wound up. I’ll take her for a walk and you can get on home. Thank you!” Susan smiled and walked to her truck. She hopped in and drove home.

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