PEOPLE: Charlie Burke Jr, Aaron Phillips & Kirsten Jade
PLACE: Akita Rose Stables Dirt Track
DATE: January 4 2014 (February Week One)
Classic Countdown
time to get serious and try our best to get in the game
"How does she look?" Aaron cried out to the trainer on the rail. Charlie nodded and lifted his thumb. "Much, much better. I'm glad we decided to wait a month before racing her this year. Now she looks ready." Aaron nodded and turned the dark bay filly around again. He agreed 100% with the trainer, Ladam Rose had come a long way the past month to being in shape to take on other fillies her age. ARS' three year olds were all behind in the race to the classic races but that doesn't mean they weren't going to try. All their three year olds had great potential and could easily come off with a win down the road. They just had to focus on working hard this year. If anything their horses can come back and dominate in their four year old season.
Kirsten glanced backward at Aaron and Ladam Rose behind them. She was impressed with the filly's progress. If they had enough time to catch up she hoped the filly would get a chance to run in the Triple Tiara this year. Coco on the other hand was supposed to be their best chance at the Triple Crown but his first start of the year had been a disappointment for ARS. Kirsten sighed and patted the small colt beneath her. "It's not your fault boy". It was her fault for leaving and bombing her horses chances at fame and fortune this year. They were still going to try their best but sometimes that just isn't enough. Especially when every three year old in the circuit seemed to have a step up on all her horses. But sometimes fairy tales came true...
Kirsten shook her head. There was no point in dreaming about what could or couldn't happen. They needed to focus on the present and on the horses they had. They would all put in the hard work and see where it would go from there. She clicked her tongue and turned Coco on the rail. He increased his pace and moved fluently in unison with nature. For some reason Kirsten always felt as though she was riding with the wind upon Coco Cabana, the colt just seemed to have a way about him that could tune into the sounds around him and become a part of nature. It was incredible. "You'll need to run like this on the weekend." The colt needed to feel his surroundings and become a part of them if he were to win this weekend.
Aaron nudged the prestigious filly into faster gait on the rail. Kirsten and Coco were just ahead of them. "Go get them girl." Aaron let some rein loose and felt the surge of the powerful legs beneath him increase their pace. Kirsten looked back to see Aaron moving Rosie up on their right. So he wants a good run eh? No problem. She held back on the reins and let Coco continue at his pace. Ladam Rose was coming up fast, it wasn't long before they were right on the colt's flank. Just a little more... Aaron and Rosie were pulling even. Kirsten glanced at her hired jockey from the corner of her eye. He still had so much to learn.
Aaron was pulling ahead. The wire was approaching at a blistering speed. Ladam Rose was easily pulling away from the Fleet Goddess son. He felt a sense of pride. He was really upon a great filly. She had better get her chance at the Tiara because Aaron couldn't see how she deserved any less. Suddenly, a flash of brown broke into Aaron's line of sight on the rail. What the? Before he could even react they were under the wire. "NO!" They had lost. Red flushed into Aaron's cheeks. He had been outsmarted by the more experienced jockey. Coco was a closer, and had not even been in full stride. He shook his head. He was not going to let this happen on the weekend. Ladam Rose needed to win.