PERSON: Kirsten Jade
PLACE: Green Horse Fields Track
Posted on July 14 2009
Dangerous
The way she came into the place
I knew right then and there
There was something different about this girl...
Kirsten stood at the rail looking out on to the GHF track. It was bustling with activity today and it wasn't surprising considering there were some big races going on and some even bigger ones approaching. She really hoped that Akita Rose Stables will end this year with a giant BANG. They have had a good year, with five of her horses reaching the grade one level in racing and the fact that they have either won or came close to winning the most prestigious races on this track.
Sure, there had been a lot of glory this year but there has also been a lot of stress. It was times like this where she wished her husband would have never left her alone. But that was out of her control and happened two years ago. Besides, she had her sister helping out the best she can. She was lucky that her racing stock had been so excellent this year and she only hoped that next year would be just as good, since she was retiring pretty much all of her grade ones except Secret Miracle.
She smiled as she thought of the awesome dark bay filly. The filly has been running her butt off this year and working hard for her glory but she loved every minute of it. She had just run in the first two jewels of the GHF Triple Crown and was kicking horse butt out there. She placed in the Kentucky Derby and showed in the Preakness Stakes. She just has not had the little extra strength to beat the super colt Impressario. She was going to give up though and will be racing her heart out in the Belmont Stakes to try and steal his crown away from him.
The Triple Crown is the most grueling and difficult challenge a three year old horse must take, it really is the ultimate test of champions. Each horse that ran in the first two races like Miracle, Anarchi, Impressario, Airliner, etc. would definitely be tired by the Belmont Stakes but none of those horses will ever be able to give up the grand prize. Secret Miracle sure has not lost her spunk, that's for sure.
Kirsten had always had a feeling that there would be something different about Secret Miracle from the day she was born. She came into the world filled with emotion as her dam died from the difficult birth. It didn't take long for Miracle to walk and grow independent, even though she was an orphan. She never even knew that she was different then the other weanlings but Kirsten did. The potential was there from the first moment that Kirsten had looked into her sweet brown eyes, she had known. For the orphaned filly to come this far into her career was quite amazing, in fact it was a MIRACLE.
Which would also be true if Miracle were to win the Belmont Stakes. The competition was intense and so was the race. A full mile and a half after the tough competition in the first two races was enough to tire a horse out for the rest of the season. This is the reason that Kirsten will not be entering Crooked Fire in the last leg of the Triple Crown. He just wasn't doing great against such tough competition and the length of the race was too long for his racing style. In fact Kirsten was tempted to retire him now before the season was even finished. She had not made up her mind yet about him though.
At that moment Kirsten heard the familiar whinny of her beloved filly that she had raised from birth. It wasn't until she felt Miracle's breath on her neck trying to get at her glasses that Kirsten whipped around and gave her a hug. Yes, she did baby her horses a bit much but that didn't matter, what's the point of living without love? "Hello my little brat. You ready to run some more?" Miracle rolled her eyes and pranced at the end of her lead shank. "I'll take that as a yes." She laughed and grabbed Miracle's reins.
After nodding a thanks to her groom Kirsten lead the spirited filly to the mounting block. Today's workout wasn't going to be much at all. Just a few warm up exercises and a slow gallop to keep Miracle nice and loose for the major race that was fast approaching.
Within the next five minutes Kirsten was mounted and already on the track. Miracle anxiously pranced around waiting for the chance to run. "Not today girl, take it easy." Miracle tossed her head as though to say "Stop being ridiculous and let's go!" Kirsten held the reins firmly in hand and kept Miracle at only a trot. The filly was definitely not happy with that.
Kirsten let her mind wander once again to the Belmont Stakes. What was going to be the income of the race? She knew that there were three other horses that will for sure pose a major threat and it was possible that Miracle will not even get in the top three. She frowned and shook her head. That is not going to happen. It better not happen but anything is possible. Just look at what happened in the Dubai World Cup... Now that had been a disappointing race but hey, what can you do?
Miracle was a good filly that just needed a good break, there has been too many closes and not enough actual wins. Always close but never the grand victory. It was time to change the luck.
Kirsten slowly let Secret Miracle into a smooth and easy gallop. The filly pressured Kirsten to let her out a little bit more but did not succeed. "On Belmont day girl... save it for the Belmont." Miracle flicked her ear back to listen and then relaxed into an easy and slow gallop. She will be ready to take on the best of the best in the next few days. Kirsten had no doubt about it.