The Underdog's Crown

[Sam]

Horse Confianza
Jockey Sam Lettington on Zazzy (Confianza)
Notes You may want to read the previous work out, which is: Discovering the Missing Puzzle Piece, to understand some of this workout. Otherwise, you should still be able to understand what happened.
Purpose Workout for Kentucky Derby

The golden colt was still nervous on the track. I had learned the trick though, in our previous lesson.

Galloping made him calm and confident. I don't know why, but when he's trotting he goes under these 'spells'. I had to ask his previous owner why he spooked when I simply reached down to pat him. Apparently, he's been going a little crazy before he was sold. His previous owner, April, is still in the hospital from her fall on him. I knew she had gotten hurt real bad in a fall, but I didn't know that Zazzy caused it.

I trotted him around near the pastures and just outside the track. He was relatively calm about this but his movements were stiff and choppy, but in comparison, it was much better then how he was on the track.

Posting to his trot, I tried to relax him and make this fun for him again.

Not many horses liked the warm up. Most of the horses I rode just wanted to simply go or race. Zazzy simply wanted to gallop. I didn't blame him. For some reason or another, he was perfectly at ease galloping.

No matter how hard I tried or how much praise I gave, he wouldn't relax. He simply did not like just trotting around. Soon he had picked up a canter but even then he was relaxed or confident.

With a sigh, I hoped I was right and pulled him to a jumpy walk. I lead him towards the dirt track where he snorted and rolled his eyes in slight fear. Still, I pushed him on.

As soon as we were a few strides away from the gate and out of harm's way, I signaled him to canter. At first he bulked and did a small half rear before lunging forwards into a slow gallop. I shortened my reins a bit and pulled him up to a canter. Even those few strides of his gallop seemed to sooth him, I realized as I turned him towards the ten furlong marker.

The Kentucky Derby was in our sights. He was definitely not the favorite in the race. More like the long-shot.

But America does love the underdogs.

Either way, I eased him towards the rail and held him steady until the ten furlong maker was even with our shoulders. But soon he began to grow uneasy with the canter. His strides grew short and choppy. His head raised high with his nostrils flaring with a bit of pink flesh showing inside.

I didn't dare try and pat him like before. I had learned my lesson the hard way- though in my defense, I was never given any warning or hint.

Soon, the ten furlong marker was upon us and I gave Zazzy the signal to fly.

He didn't hesitate and he bolted into a gallop. For a moment, he seemed almost frantic, then he grew calm and organized.

I crouched in the saddle, feeling his powerful gallop under me as I began to pull him back to save energy for the long race. I was grateful for my iron stirrups now. I could enjoy his gallop without getting in his way.

The first time I rode his gallop, was when I had given him a reassuring pat and he bolted to the side. (Now, I'm not angry or upset with him. He was under his 'spell' and believed I was trying to hit him. It wasn't his fault he was mistreated as a colt.) I had lost my irons at once and was on his side, thinking of a safe departure when Zazzy snapped out of his- due to the ease of his mind the gallop gives him- and swung towards me to help me back on. I hadn't been able to get off his back and kept getting in the way of his gallop but it felt fast and furious still. I couldn't wait to see how it was now with me in a proper position.

Before I could give it much thought, we were taking the first wide turn. The court house turn, to be exact.

I eased him towards the rail and with expert hands kept him there, despite how naturally he wanted to swing wide around the turn. In long distance races, it was important to keep to the rail on the corners as it helped to reduce the work your horse had to do and left you more horse for the sprint on the stretch and final furlongs.

Soon enough, we were on the back stretch.

Zazzy was having the time of his life. I began to realize that it wasn't the trails he loved galloping on. It was simply galloping. It was the cure to his 'spells' and he knew this. I was certain of it.

The backstretch was relatively uneventful, as usual. It was often the time when I got in trouble for not paying attention or letting my mind wander. Today was no different.

I still tried to stay focused though. But this was difficult with the calming rocking horse motion underneath me. The sheer power and willingness to heed to my commands was easy to put my mind at ease and make me believe the ride was in the bag.

Forcing myself to pay attention just in time for the turn home, I let Zazzy speed up just a tad. I had plenty of horse at the moment and I knew Zazzy didn't have the fast acceleration to his top speed. Letting him build up a bit now would help him in the long run.

Around the final turn we soared. He clung to the rail with no arguments and gradually began to pick up speed. His strides grew long and came quickly. His mouth began to tug on the bit, begging me to let him hurry up and gallop.

I smiled and held him at his current speed.

Luckily, I did not have to for long.

The stretch opened up upon us and the colt wasn't going to wait for me to let him go. I didn't try to hold him back as I gave him his head and encouraged him faster by following his mouth and clucking to him.

Atta boy! I praised. Zazzy dug deep into the dirt and trudged faster. I learned from our previous ride how much Zazzy appreciated a few encouraging words, which I certainly wasn't short on.

That's it, buddy! I mumbled into his flying mane. He caught my words over the roaring wind and his thundering hooves. He pulled against the bit and forced his hind end to push faster while his flexing shoulders rippled with the effort of pulling his massive body forwards and stretching to make the most of the ground eating stride.

His golden hide was shining and his white, creamy mane was whipping at my face lightly. His head bobbed rather violently as he desperately tried to gallop his heart out. But it seemed as if his nose was trying to drag Zazzy's body behind him like it was holding him back. With a smile, I loosened the reins a bit. Zazzy responded with a few powerful, fast strides.

Soon though, to my disappointment, the wire flew over us.

I stood in the stirrups and gave him a hearty pat on the neck. He didn't jump but simply rubbed his neck into my hand and galloped slowly on. We might have a chance at the crown buddy, I said, though I felt as if my words may be empty. That ride felt great, but would he hold up with such competition?

Think, Zaz, I mused. An underdog winning the crown. No one would see that coming. Eh, bud? Zazzy snorted softly, as if he disagreed and he saw it coming. I just grinned, rubbed his neck and began to pull him up.

Word Count 1,337