John's 2yo Season - Filly - Sprinter

Race: Maiden Special Weight - 6 Furlongs - Muddy - Dirt - 1st (March)
Purse: $56,000
Number of Runners: 5
Injuries: N/A

The track was gross when John was put into the gate. A nice shower was coming down on the track that Tuesday and there weren't many spectators to watch the ponies when the weather was bad. Still, Tat and Thomas stood under the balcony in the onwr's box to watch the only palamino start from the gate and thunder down the track with a group of 4 other miserable horses.

The race ended more quickly than anticipated and soon enough results were being posted, the hum of the announcer nothing but more noise to accompany the rain on the overhang.

"Well, I guess sprinter is good then." Thomas mused as he fixed his jacket, Tat giving a slight nod of her head in agreement.


Race: Allowance - 6 Furlongs - Good - Dirt - 4th (March)
Purse: $58,000
Number of Runners: 5
Injuries: N/A


Race: Allowance - 6 furlongs - Sloppy - Dirt - 4th (April)
Purse: $58,000
Number of Runners: 11
Injuries: Stumbled coming out of the gate. Mild lameness.


Race: Claiming - 6 Furlongs - Cuppy - Dirt - 1st (May)
Purse: $20,000
Number of Runners: 6
Injuries: Ran into the side of the gate coming out. Bruising on foreleg and shoulder.

"She's gotta go. She's not doing like I thought she would." Tat sighed, putting her horse John up for a claimings race after a string of failed attempts at more wins. The filly hadn't done much more than bang into things and get herself out of the money. 4th wasn't terrible, but it didn't win shit.

Thomas shrugged. "Well, her pedigree sucks in all honesty. Shoulda known."

They put the filly up for claiming, hoping that someone would take her for her looks alone since her performance and health record sucked at the moment. 20k was sure to bring a nibble. It was low.

But John had other ideas. She ran into the gate again at the start, something that seemed to be a habit as of late, but she didn't let that stop her and soon she had raced down the stretch to win by a neck. It left Tat and Thomas stunned, but also a tad peeved. Figured a horse would get back in the game when it was going to be sold.

Tat went to see who she had t give her horse to when the person behind the claiming counter said no one had tried.

"Bad pedigree. Congrats though."


Race: Schuylerville Stakes - 6 Furlongs - Muddy - Dirt - 1st (July)
Purse: $150,000
Number of Runners: 7
Injuries: N/A


Race: Spinaway Stakes - 7 Furlongs - Good - Dirt - 1st (August)
Purse: $350,000
Number of Runners: 10
Injuries: N/A

John's run in the Schuylerville Stakes had garnered a new mission: keep the good sprinter going. Tat wasn't very interested in selling her golden girl any longer. She was going strong, with her wins promising. If she could keep the good karma going then Tat was sure she'd have a great broodmare for later on. A sprinter wasn't preferred, but that speed could be used to heighten a stayer's endurance speed overall.

So she put John into the Spinaway stakes, John's second GI race, and wasn't surprised when the filly pulled it off again, pulling ahead by half a length.

She smirked at her head trainer, tapping his arm with her racing paper. "Aren't you glad we didn't sell her?"


Race: Hopeful Stakes - 7 Furlongs - Cuppy - Dirt - 1st (September)
Purse: $250,000
Number of Runners: 8
Injuries: Banged a knee on the gate.

The dreaded gate curse was back again.

Though John had won, by a flared nostril, the damage for running into the gate had been done and Tat could only pinch the bridge of her nose in disgruntlement at her horse's stupidity.

"You're supposed to be the smart one, John." she muttered, the mare being lead back to the paddock area to seek veterinarian treatment for the swelling.


Race: Xpressbet Sprint - 6 Furlongs - Good - Dirt - 1st (November)
Purse: $1,500,000
Number of Runners: 7
Injuries: Bruised tendon due to overreaching.

When John had been entered into the breeder's cup, Tat had been wary. John had just come off of a leave due to a knee problem from a prior race and although her workouts had been promising, the actual competition was a whole nother ballgame. Anything could happen, and although they didn't push their horses past their limits or make then dope up or anything, the potential problems that could arise were mounting every minute before post time.

The race went off with the crowd cheering and soon it was over, John's golden head in front of a pack of 4 that had been on her heels from the moment they had started. Tat was both overjoyed and then worried when the video showed John stopping short and limping.

She and Thomas hurried down to see what was the matter, soon discovering that it was a tendon injury. Not terrible, but not good either.

Tat sighed. Once again her bright star was in trouble again.


Season Totals:

5/1/0/2 - 8
$2,326,000.00