Spreading Luck [Day 7]

[Sam]

Day Seven

Jake rode beside me on the gentle Callie while Zazzy fidgeted under me. The two golden racers seemed to be complete opposites in the personality factor.

Callie was calm and gentle. She looked upon the track with her even, understanding gaze. Every now and then she would give a worried look at the colt before continuing with her work.

Zaz was restless right now. Spooky and frightful, he looked for any excuse to bolt. On my relaxed hands on the reins kept him just barely under control. He was powerful but wanted to be good.

It was the biggest thing they had in common: Heart.

Both wanted to be good. Both wanted to given praise and pats. Both wanted to do whatever we wanted to. They simply wanted to give us all they had in them.

I wasn't one to complain to that.

Though if you compare their papers Zaz and Callie were very similar. Zaz's parents were unknown while Callie's was nearly unheard of- unless you who Nut's parents are. Both had won the Derby, but I prayed that Zazzy wouldn't follow Callie and fail to win the Preakness.

We are going the full distance, I said as I sat Zaz's panic-filled trot. She can go much farther, so don't worry about her much. I'm going to retire her this year. We are focusing on Zaz. Take the lead and keep it during the stretch. Do whatever dirty trick you can think of. Zaz will have to face it come the Preakness. It was a safe bet that none of the other racers wanted me to win most of all. I would be singled out now and couldn't sneak a win in. We had to play around whatever tricks might be thrown at me.

If you say so, Jake replied, eying Zaz. He's never watched the colt enter the track. I knew he's heard how Zazzy hated doing anything but cantering or galloping on the track, but I guess he didn't know how bad he was.

I nodded. Let's go then. I let Zaz have his head and in an instant he was off and galloping. I let him go for a few strides before he gained his wits and slowed to an easy going canter.

A laugh escaped me and I curled a finger around in his mane as we cantered to the eleven furlong marker. I gave him a rub down his neck and he rolled his neck into it, enjoying the small praise.

I grinned at that but soon brought my attention back to more serious manners. I loved this boy so much it made it hard to remember I had to also be a business woman and not just a horse person.

Though with all my recent rescues and project horses, I don't think I've found the delicate balance between the two.

Jake came cantering beside us. He looked overgrown on the filly. She was a tall buckskin at just over sixteen hands, but just not tall enough. Then again, Jake was just too large to be a jockey- though that never stopped Keegan from doing so well under him.

Guess it goes to show that size really doesn't matter.

Soon my boy took notice of Callie's approach. He flicked an ear at her, but did not speed up or make any nasty moves towards her. He simply acknowledged that the filly was there, then he continued on as if he didn't care.

I smiled at Zaz before I turned my gaze to Jake, who was staring at Zaz again with slight wonder and confusion.

Told ya' he was fine once we got moving, I said with a small laugh. Jake's gaze met mine and soon he responded with his own chuckle.

We came upon the eleven furlong marker in a matter of moments. I exchanged a glance with Jake and he nodded in response. I turned back and held Zaz at an easy canter, nose to nose with Callie- who didn't seem to have much of a complaint about all this.

As soon as the eleven furlong marker passed, I urged Zaz into a gallop. He was quick to response and passed by Callie to take the lead.

Callie, who was slower to respond and not as desperate at Zaz to gallop, took up the rear with little complaint.

Down the first turn we slowly flew, taking our time and saving our energy.

For the Preakness, I decided not to chance putting Zaz in the middle of the pack. A horse may block our path on purpose just so we don't have a shot at the Triple Crown. Instead, Zaz would find a nice clean spot right behind the front runners. He wasn't going to pressure the horses or try to worry them, but simply wait for the stretch.

His pace was easy and a little slow. I sped him up a bit with a small cluck. He hesitated a little, with no one in front he saw no reason to speed up but he soon responded and increased his speed a tad.

Soon, he was galloping at my desired speed for the Preakness. Not too slow and not too fast. Perfect for Zaz to save his speed and energy for the last few furlongs where it will come in handy.

Callie began to pressure from behind but Zaz paid no mind at all. She galloped at his heels, pounding loudly and snorting in beat. But Zaz barely bat an eye.

-Unfinished-
-note to self: corner and backstretch-