Daybreak at Louisville Downs Part 7

Original article written by The Steward posted 14 years 3 weeks ago

The paddock was crowded Wednesday afternoon as horses circled the rubber-floored ring and stood patiently in the saddling stalls, eyeing the weekday crowd.

Amy Schmidt leaned against the wooden wall separating two of the schooling stalls, watching the white blaze of So It Begins and the white diamond of the tiny Mucho Gusto bob up and down in their stalls. The fussy fillies skittered about, leaning up against the walls, watching the other horses school.

Rob Kilbourn stood on the rubber between rows of flowers, talking with Martin Toly and Terry Pickhaver. The three men discussed Kilbourn’s Afraid to Lead, while Terry waited for One Way Girl and Martin had Coloratura Soprano schooling in the next race. Afraid to Lead walked calmly, head down, as if watching his own feet on the walkway.

Skyla Tate leaned up against the outer rail, watching her strapping bay Anthem of Triumph from the outside. The $27,000 purchase sported almost no pedigree, but he had gone undefeated that year, winning three listed stakes and a Grade 3. The quiet trainer Nora Jean stood nearby, just outside the levels of standing space around the paddock, watching the third race go on the jumbo monitor.

“Good afternoon,” Arthur Cutler said to Skyla, walking up behind her and smiling.

Skyla pointed at Anthem of Triumph. “He looks great, huh?”

“He looks calm,” Arthur agreed. “Sometimes that is all that matters!”

The race 4 horses arrived, a set of eight, including Adrenalize, Keep the Lady, Mighty Big Smile, and the bright bay mare Writeyoualovesong. Trainer Dana Williams brought up the rear, holding the left side shank on Aiyana, her massive chestnut filly. A prancing black colt with a white face also circled with the horses, but Much Like Falling had opted for the Seek Thrills Handicap against Derby Dreams, Beyond the Stars, and Jester of Fools.

“I guess I’ll see you in the morning,” Skyla chirped, following Anthem of Triumph around the outside of the paddock and back towards the barn area. Arthur smiled and nodded.

**

On Thursday morning shortly after training, Ali LaDuke leaned back on a tack trunk and put her aching feet up on a bucket. “Suuusssiiieeee, where are you?” Ali called. She got no response, but couldn’t be bothered to get up. Her brand new, stylish leather boots stood useless beside the tack trunk.

Susie Raisher heard Ali yell, but didn’t shout back because Boann, her royally-bred chestnut filly, was finally settled down and grazing. The slightest noise or movement disturbed the pretty three-year-old, who continuously raised her head and examined the Louisville grounds while chewing.

After twenty minutes, Susie led the filly back into the barn and released her into the stall next to Ali’s Djembe. The two chestnuts, both Distaff contenders, were frighteningly similar mirror images. Djembe was out of Wonder, the dam of Triple Crown winner Awake As I Am and Distaff runner Asleep As I Am. Wonder was also the dam of More, whose first foal was Boann. While Asleep As I Am was stabled in Eric Nalbone’s castle of superhorses across the backside, Djembe and Boann were close enough to try to rub noses.

“I can’t believe it’s almost Steward’s Cup,” Ali commented, settling her new dark sunglasses over her eyes and scooting the tack trunk closer to the side of the shedrow so her legs could sunbathe outside the doorway.

“Can you act like you’re in Kentucky?” Susie glared.

“No way,” Ali responded. She gestured to the tack room. “I’m about to put my flip flops back on and go to the pool at the hotel. Want to come?”

“No, thanks,” Susie responded. “I want to do up Depths of the Sea before I go.”

“Have fun,” Ali called, gathering her things.

Susie moved down the aisle, meeting Depths of the Sea at the front of his stall. This would be his third straight Steward’s Cup Marathon appearance, and at one time, “Depths” was the defending champion. He had dethroned favored Greenspan in Year 23, and he held a special place is Susie’s heart.

“Move, big guy,” Susie murmured, letting herself into the stall. Instead of redoing the horse’s legwraps, she simply hugged his neck, her cheek against his warm shoulder. Depths of the Sea nickered, but stood still.


**

“I don’t understand!” Emily Mitchell snapped, throwing the Feature Race across her desk in an uncommon fit of irritation.

“I’m sorry?” Alex Puderbaugh said, surprised, leaning back slightly to avoid being hit with any other objects.

“I have brought an excellent hand here to Louisville, I think,” Emily Mitchell spat, frowning, “but not a single Feature Race writer is picking any of my horses.”

Alex wracked her brain, trying to think of all the horses that Emily Mitchell had stabled down the shedrow where Alex’s own colt Leitmotif lived. Her eyes lit up. “Oh! You are running SS Express, right?” Emily Mitchell nodded. Alex continued, “The Filly and Mare Sprint has four runners from the same mare. First, Camaro is out of Speed of Sound. In White Light is out of White Lightning who is out of Speed of Sound. And, S S Express is a sister to Heavy Chevy, they are both running, and they are both out of Chevelle, who is out of…”

“Speed of Sound, I get it,” Emily Mitchell glowered. “I really think I could win a couple of these races.”

“It’s okay, no one is picking Leitmotif either,” Alex consoled. “And he’s undefeated!”

“They’ll regret it,” Emiy Mitchell said firmly, gazing out over the curious heads in the shedrow. “They will definitely regret it.”

**

As the sun fell to Thursday night, producing a purple dusk, young Mike Eaton stood in the infield of Louisville Downs. He gazed at the mighty grandstand, and then looked over to the finish pillar beside the wire.

A brisk evening chill whipped up, searing through his windbreaker. Mike remained quiet, watching, fixated on the finish line, his eyes trailing over the bolded black words FINISH. He released the breath he didn’t even know he was holding, and begged.

“Please, let me win a Steward’s Cup race soon. Please.”

He closed his eyes tight as if wishing, then turned and disappeared into the tunnel under the racetrack.

The End

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