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Not a Real Daybreak - Appies
Original article written by Louise Bayou posted 8 years 3 weeks ago"I'm telling you, it really works" Jacob Herman said earnestly to Jack Meyer as they stood just outside of the shed row. Barn 4 was busy as several trainers sent out their Steward Cup charges one last time. Jack looked back over at Jacob's colt Nemadji who stood patiently in the tub of strange smelling liquid. "Okay man, you seem to always be stacked with nice horses" Jack said not really sure if Jacob was trying to pull a fast one on him or not.
As the sun slowly came up Sara Kendall and Clinton Jacinto found themselves both waiting at gap to take their colts on to the track. "Stop it dang you" Clinton spoke softly to his colt who just couldn't seem to keep all 4 feet on the ground at once. Looking over shoulder Sara warned "Don't let that thing kick my colt!" as she handed Ruling Time to her groom. Both of them jerked around as a clatter of hooves broke the silence to see Michael Looker on his pony trying his best to get his filly Oh My Goggles calmed down. Michael's exercise rider looked non to pleased to have this much drama so early in the morning. "I told you boss, she thinks she is the boss around here" Jose' said shaking his head. Michael glanced over as Clinton Graves and Jenn Francis walked by and just shrugged "Hey she feels good and I'm going to let her have her way if it helps her win tomorrow".
Over in the track tack shop Izzy Rafferty and Kenzie Larkin were in a buying mood. "Well you know it is Georgia Bulldog colors AND on sale" Izzy said as she tried to convince Kenzie that the halter was a must have. Not one to talk anyone out of a bargain Kenzie shook her head and agreed. About that time Bob Probert and Bob Green walked in and were in deep conversation and ran in the two shopaholics. "Now girls, leave some tack for the rest of us" Bob Probert joked as he picked out a few red and white things for his barn.
Alex Puderbaugh found herself picking up random empty coffee cups as she walked down the shed row of Barn 6. "Who could possibly drink that much coffee?" she muttered to herself. As she went in to the office, Patrick O'Malley sat behind the desk with a cup in his hand. "I found you!" Alex shouted, making Patrick jump and almost spill his drink. Rachel Sadler who was walking by with her colt Laser Focus chuckled as she walked by never breaking stride.
The hum of activity was most obvious in Barn 13. Trainer J K Rowling and just cross tied her 2yr old filly Sadie's Domino in to the wash rack as Flip Flop and Fly was brought in to the empty one by his trainer Emma Lochran. "What do you think your chances are JK?" Emma ask trying to make small talk. JK looked up from picking her filly's feet curtly replied "As good as anyone" and went back to her duties. Shrugging her shoulders Emma finished up with her well mannered colt and took him to his stall. That side of the shedrow was alive as Karie McBrian tended to her string of horses. She had the radio on, singing along to a song Emma had never heard as she strung up hay for each horse.
All the way down in Barn 25 the mood was decidedly more zen. Trainers Lee Key Shipyard and Jon Snyder stood in the doorway of the office staring inside. Laura Smith was sitting at the desk with a Bonsai Tree on the desk as new age music played in the background. "Now Laura, I like to relax as much next person but that is taking it to the extreme" said Lee Key. Sitting up straight and stretching, Laura laughed as she set the tree aside. "Eh it helps me relax in this crazy mixer world I'm in now. These horses are so high strung I need it!".
Anna Leroux had just finished up with her colt Hear No Evil when Erica Olson showed up. Anna had promised to give Erica some pointers and Erica came prepared with note pad and pen. Anna laughed and took the pen and paper out of Erica's hand and sat it on the desk. "You won't be needing that" as she led Erica outside. Standing there was two horses tacked up ready to go. Gasping Erica whispered "Is that Zebra Striped and Beergoggles?", nodding Anna held the reins as Erica climbed on Hall of Famer Beergoggles. Swinging her leg over Zebra Striped she gave him a pat and said "I figure these young horses need to see what champions look like!" as the two girls rode off to enjoy the cool morning and talked Appys.
As the morning turned to afternoon, the backside was quiet and peaceful. Now tomorrow would be a different story...