Sloppy

The track was absolutely repulsive today...I didn't even make it off my first horse without getting splattered with mud. In case you've never had the pleasure of that experience, it hurts, and it puts me in a bad mood almost immediately. Goldi just jogged today since she's still getting over her weird illness/heat stroke the other day...she was not the good little girl I thought she would be and yanked my arms out...at least we only had to go one round. She's a little stick of dynamite and she doesn't back off until she's back in her stall...not the most pleasing characteristic to have when there's infinite walls of horses in front of you. Alas, we made it. Flash was next, and although he likes the track to be a little wet, pure and utter slop is not his cup of tea. Actually, I don't think it was any of my horses' cup of tea (except for Stormy, who I will get to later). Flash couldn't get a hold of the track to save his life and this just furthered my mood. Diva was next...by this point my very good friend K had arrived for her first backside experience :) Diva, typical after a day off, was full of it. So full of it that she managed to lock her right jaw and pull me towards the rail the entire gallop...eventually to the point where she tripped and almost fell because she was so busy arguing with me. She's quite sure she knows best and isn't keen on listening to my opinion...but she walked home very politely. Then came Allie who basically came out of her stall breathing fire. Trying to go on the gap, we were run into by another horse and that was the only excuse Miss Thang needed to erupt. By erupt I mean broncing like a rodeo horse and rearing straight in the air only to land and spin and do it again. I finally got her moving forward and now had to contend with her "water buffalo" huffs and puffs and her tail straight up in the air. She settled down but had a particularly hard time with the slop. Such a stinkwad. Next was darling little Gem, who has really become one of my favorites lately. He was the picture of class today, absolutely perfect despite the scary track and all the staccato hoofbeats on the front side. He doesn't seem to love the slop either but he did his best and I was very pleased with him. Ella ponied today and was wonderful...it was nice to not have to fight with her and just let her enjoy her training time.

At break we went up to watch the Derby and Oaks horses. I am more high on American Lion than ever. He reminds me very much of Barbaro, he is training fantastically and has a beautiful stride that just floats over the ground. The slop didn't seem to bother him at all. Lucky continues to impress me and had a nice relaxed gallop today. He does everything with so much class. Super Saver worked under Calvin today and really impressed me...he's not a flashy horse but he is special to watch. Lion replaced Dublin in my tri today as Dublin bolted shortly after beginning his gallop and ran off the gap, scattering camera crews and fans. Whether this has been a problem with him before or if he just started it, it's not a good sign. Devil May Care continues to impress with her graceful way of going and worked very impressively. Either race she runs in, she will belong.

After break I galloped Stormy, and he was the only horse who really relished the slop today. He is always a joy to gallop and was an absolute professional today. Butters was surprisingly well behaved and classy today as well, although I felt like we were on a slip-n-slide the entire gallop. He stood out quietly and despite the marathon runners in the infield he focused on his job. He's matured quite a bit since we got him in the barn and I'm starting to really enjoy him.

Day off tomorrow, and hopefully the track will be a bit better for the kiddos on Monday! :)

Speeding ticket!

Stormy's first work back was today! We got a bit of a speeding ticket, but he was CRUISING. I never had to ask him, he did it all on his own and galloped out like a champion. He has such a long, powerful stride...you feel like you're not flying, but you are. He is so incredible! He takes my breath away. If he were a man, I would marry him. Hopefully he comes out of the work well and can move forward from here.

It was fun riding under the lights this morning. Since we started training early (thanks, Derby horses) we got to train under the lights they use for the night races. It felt like being in Dubai :) And had a really, really good gallop on Flash, Butters and Bold. And Goldie, too, to think of it. Goldie started off really relaxed today and galloped around like a superstar. Flash loved the wet track and galloped like a champ, although I somehow managed to burn him on his side...I have no idea how. Couldn't figure out anything that could have done it, but I felt terrible...cried a little bit...he is the sweetest horse in the barn and I hurt him. Hopefully using the black "rub" pad on him will help from now on. Butters (Margy's new name) was much, much better today...stood pretty well and started off MUCH more professionally, relaxed into his gallop and did everything right. And Bold put a big huge smile on my face...he walked back until I asked him to jog, stood out at the wire for about five minutes without any fussing, walked off and then galloped around nice and easy. He just needs a lot of reassurance and sweet talking...but he is such a good soul...I really like him a lot and all the other people in the barn do too! I want him to make it, just like I want Stormy to get back to the races...projects keep me going :)

Time to go watch the Lexington...day off tomorrow, but I can't wait to get back to the barn on Monday morning!

Crisp continues to impress the hell out of me. She is training like a monster. She acts a little nervous until she settles into her gallop and then she's a total professional. She seems to like the track fine, although we'll see how she works over it. Also saw Beautician and Champagne D'Oro this morning, both are beautiful fillies but didn't train as impressively as Crisp did. Also got a glimpse of Paddy O' Prado, who had a nice and relaxed gallop before break.

Three new horses in the barn this morning, including another "project" horse who is a total doll and really fun to ride. His name is Bold, he's a 3 y/o colt. I was cautious as always when getting on a new horse, but this one (although slightly nervous at first) was a complete professional who really listened and did as I asked. Here he is:

The other new guys are 2 y/o Value Plus babies, one a colt and one a gelding. They aren't named as of yet so we are called them Salty and Margy, after their dams. Both were lovely to ride and had nice strides. I rode Margy and Sas rode Salty:
And to tie up a lovely morning, Gem worked his second 3/8th's and not only cruised home ahead of his company but also got the bullet. So impressed with him and we are very excited about his future!Tomorrow should be a busy day, with 18 trackers and "special" training hours to allow a time slot for only Derby and Oaks horses to train. I love my job...I am so very blessed to work with these people and these horses and to get to watch the best 3 y/o's in the country train every day.

Got to watch Lookin' at Lucky work today. He looked like he was just on cruise control, and I later found out he worked in 1:01 and change...he looked slower than that, so I am fairly impressed. He seems to handle the track well. I think this is my Derby horse. Scold me if you wish, but I am infatuated.

Also caught a glimpse of what I think was Crisp, Sadler's Oaks filly. She is a big, impressive looking filly. She was definitely looking around, at the gate/front side, but who can blame her. She wasn't being bad, just checking out the sights.

And briefly saw Ice Box galloping...he looked like a tough one to gallop, but seemed to be on his toes.

As far as "my" horses, it was just a long morning...one of those mornings that started off badly and just got worse and worse. Luckily all the horses seemed to work well and tomorrow we'll have more working. Blackie didn't get into her race but Ella is in on the 19th. She'll walk until then thanks to the stupid Dantrium rules in Indiana...but I really hope she runs well. If I didn't have class, I'd be riding up in the van with her. I *love* her so much.

Got to see my ClanClan today which was the highlight of my morning. I can't believe what an iron horse she has become. :) Going to visit her in the barn tomorrow after I get done with work...and can visit Cash while I'm there.
Hopefully more Derby/Oaks spottings tomorrow!

Got our first look at Lookin' at Lucky this morning. He looks great, seemed to like the track (even though it was horrible today). He is a gorgeous man. I'm on the alert for Sidney's Candy tomorrow, hopefully I'll get to see him. This is so exciting!

My kids were all pretty good today...Stormy continues to confuse with his weird head tilt and heaviness on right rein. We're thinking a lot of his weird habits are probably due to just that, habit, rather than actual pain. He seems to do everything else right, switches leads when I ask and jogs home sound. He needs to learn how to speak English and tell us that everything's okay. It's possible there's something hidden in that gorgeous long gallop stride of his, so I'll have to pay special attention to that tomorrow.

Ella had a moment today that required me pressing the "restart button"...after a bit of jogging she calmed down and was able to lope around on a nice, loose rein. I am determined to get her to understand that slow and easy is much better than fast and fighting, especially when that fighting includes her pounding on her own legs. She's the neatest horse ever, regardless. When she stops and poses on her way to the track every day, there's not a person on the track who wouldn't think she was a stakes horse. She's got more class than I originally thought.

Last ride on Cash today :( She definitely made it a good one (haha, in typical Cash fashion). Gave her kisses and told her to behave herself for them...I can always go visit her, she's right across the backside.

I am so blessed to be in this job right now. I have so much passion for this and I love the people who I work for/with every day...makes it *almost* easy to jump out of bed at 4:50 a.m. The horses are just great to ride and be around, I love being at Churchill...God is just so amazing.

Roses

I can't believe it's 18 days until Derby! Soon the track will be transformed to a swirl of media and fans...I'm grateful we've had the chance to get used to a quiet track beforehand so hopefully Derby time won't upset our horses too much. We have a lot of old professionals in the barn but some younger kids too, ones that haven't seen much yet. A few that may be a little nervous about the cameras and crowds are Diva, Alli, Gem, and maybe the new babies that are coming in tomorrow. Of course, they always surprise you. They might enjoy the attention.

Flash worked today...his first work back. He was amazing...nice and easy to the pole, finished up beautifully, never had to ask him for much. We went in pretty much the exact time that was wanted, which is probably the first time I've ever gotten a time right. :) Yay. He's such a classy little boy. He seemed to cool out well, so hopefully he'll continue to move forward and get back to the races soon.

Gem was the gold-star winner for today. He was an absolute professional...stood at the gap, stood at the wire, started off nice and easy, galloped great, and walked home totally chill. So proud of him! N caught a picture of us walking home:

Just love him. :) Actually, I love all of them. Very much. Cash and Turfy leave tomorrow and I'm really going to miss Cash. She is such a bad girl, but she loves to gallop and she loves her job, and her personality just rocks. I wish her the best with her "new" people!

Heard a rumor that Lookin' at Lucky was shipping in this afternoon. So excited that I actually get to be a "part" of Derby this year! As much as I loved galloping at the training center, to be in the middle of all the action....the thought just gives me goosebumps!

Just had to post a little "brag" about two of the horses today...Ella and Flash.

Ella was a total superstar today. We got to the track relatively quickly today as opposed to most days...she likes to stop and look around about every five seconds...today we only had three stops and then she walked onto the track like she owned it. We met up with Brass Hat and she actually WALKED all the way to the 3/4 pole...she was SO good...then she decided it was time to get going, and jogged back to the wire. She actually turned around slowly (for her) and started off slowly (for her)...and although she was her usual charming self during her gallop, there were MOMENTS of relaxation where I didn't have to fight with her...and then she walked home like a champ. *So* proud of her.

Flash had another good day, so things are looking up for him. He hit the ground beautifully today and barely needed any warm-up time...then jogged out after his gallop perfectly. Hopefully we're back on the right track with him. Starting to think the track was just too hard the other day and he prefers a little more cushion.

I guess if I have to be completely covered in mud and nastiness, it's good that the horses can still make me smile. :)

Today was just one of those mornings where all the horses make me smile. Most mornings, at least one or two of the kiddos will make me want to claw my eyeballs out, but today...not so much. They were all wonderful in their own special ways. So, not to bore everyone, but I feel the need to just run through the morning, horse by horse.

Stormy: My big horse always starts my morning off right. He's getting so much better about bridling, and mounting, and walking to the track without broncing like a rodeo horse. I just have to always remember that he's cold-backed and hates when I land on his back after my leg-up, so I have to kind of hover above him before I sit...seems to work. He marches to the track like he owns Churchill Downs, sets one hoof on the track and immediately starts jogging. He is the only horse in the barn that I trust to back up without putting a foot wrong. He stands out like a pro, then we start off...he has the most amazing, ground-covering stride...does everything like a stakes horse. We have to get this big guy back to the races.

Flash: Babay felt much better today. Jogged one and galloped one...he was relaxed and hitting the ground beautifully. I want him to make it...he is so classy and so good about everything...he wants to train but he's polite about it. Hopefully tomorrow he'll have another good day.

Goldi: Hello, pixie. She is the smallest Medaglia D'Oro I've ever seen...possibly half the size of my MDO gelding. She is so fun to gallop...she starts off way too fast but then she comes right back and gallops around like a pony. One of Ralph Nicks' horses came up beside us and she never even got tough...which I appreciate.

Ella: I hate to admit it but I'm starting to like this filly more and more. She is so peculiar and tough to deal with but she's got personality and I like it. Now that I'm finally starting to get used to her somewhat strange galloping style, we're doing a lot better. Relaxation is just key for her.

Dancer: ...was SUCH a good boy today. Made it all the way around the racetrack galloping with the pony. Never got tense or hot or even looked at the gaps. S is going to start backing him off the pony and getting him to go by himself...will be exciting to see him progress. You can't not like him...such a big and handsome horse.

Cash: Backed up with Brass Hat today and tried showing off for him. She is such a flirt. She galloped around nicely...but that wasn't the best part...before we started out, one of McPeek's horses got loose and Cash helped herd him. She may have a future as a cow pony if racing doesn't work out :)

Gem: I tried testing him a little bit today and he came through with flying colors. We had four horses directly in front of us and I made him take some dirt in his face for a few strides, then a hole opened up in the middle of the pack and I shot him through it. He never even hesitated...once he was in the clear he started fooling around a little bit but he's doing everything else so professionally that I wasn't too worried. He is standing beautifully, starting out relaxed, and walking home like a gentleman. He is a classy, classy colt...

Alli: Fatty McFatterson doesn't enjoy the heat but she was willing. Stood out for a long time and just watched the other horses train...she is one of the few that will stand for as long as I want. When I was ready she just walked off like a total champ...she's really fun to ride...just has to get that weight off.

So that was my morning. Makes me excited to go back tomorrow and do it all over again. I'm so blessed to get to do this job every day...and to have these horses to get on...they are just the best kiddos in the world.