All Her Own

A New Partner

The same day that Theworldisahead won the Belmont, Joey won the Metropolitan Handicap, a Grade 1 race, coming from far back to pull an upset.

Theworldisahead was out breezing only 2 days after the Belmont since it hadn't seemed to take anything out of her. She did 6 furlongs in 1:13, a relatively speedy recovery workout. Theworldisahead wasn't the type to break records in workouts. Not yet, at least. She WAS only 3 years old, and I had all intentions of racing her longer.

After making sure Tag knew what to do with Joey, I hopped in my mud-splattered truck and drove off with the trailer attached to it. I was going to another sale to buy some 2 year olds, and they were more necessary now that Joey and Theworldisahead were 4 and 3, respectively.

I looked at the info I had scribbled on a paper. It was good I had it, considering I had forgotten my sale booklet.

Hip #39
4 year old mare-3 time Gr1 winner
A Rebel's Belief
Revolutionary-Believe You Can

Hip #85
3 year old colt-3 starts, 2 wins
Burythehatchet
Forestry-Top Decile

Hip #126
3 year old gelding-3 starts, 1 win, 1 place, 1 show
Withalittleluck
Itsmyluckyday-Little Alexis

Hip #176
3 year old filly-3 starts, 3 wins
Wave Goodbye
Normandy Invasion-Oceanwave

Hip #203
3 year old colt-unraced
Total Takeover
Gemologist-Seduire

The auction began, and I had spent a lot more money than I wanted by the time it came to Hip #200. I had gotten A Rebel's Belief, Withalittleluck, and Wave Goodbye. Now, I really wanted Total Takeover, but I didn't have much money left. As the colt was led into the ring, there were a few audible gasps, including my own. He was a gorgeous light gray with a black strip down his forehead. The bidding rose quickly, and I bid everything I had left to bid.
"$851,000!"
Dead silence.
When there were no other takers, the gavel came down and the colt was mine. He looked powerful, although his pedigree wasn't the best.

Since Theworldisahead was working a mile the next day, I decided to try running Total Takeover with her. He kept up until Theworldisahead's competitive nature flared and she pulled away in the last 100 yards. He was tired, but not overly. I realized I had something here. A new training partner for Theworldisahead and a future for me.

I needed to decide where to race all my horses next. I was planning on heading up to Saratoga at some point, so something in New York was preferable. After staying up most of the night, I made my decisions. The next morning, I handed Tag a sheet of paper with the races the horses should be aimed for.

Joey-Suburban H. (dirt)(Belmont)
Theworldisahead-Test (dirt)(Saratoga)
Wave Goodbye-Belmont Derby Invitational (turf)(Belmont)
Total Takeover-Jim Dandy (dirt)(Saratoga)

I was eager to try Wave Goodbye on turf. Her sire had never run on turf, but he was a closer, and closers were useful on turf. I thought Wave Goodbye could use her closing speed to overtake British horses at the end of a turf race, hence her being prepared for the Belmont Derby Invitational

Total Takeover was ready for a challenge, and some of the Triple Crown field was headed to the Jim Dandy. The Jim Dandy was also a stepping stone to the Travers, which I planned on running either Total Takeover or Theworldisahead in.

Joey just needed a race on dirt, but not a Grade 1. The Suburban was Grade 2.

Theworldisahead had only ever run against one filly, even though she herself was one. I wanted to keep her in top company whenever possible, but I wanted to give her a bit of a break. The August 8 Test, a Grade 1, was perfect. It was a week after the Jim Dandy, and I planned on keeping both the dirt 3 year olds at Saratoga until after the Travers.

Tag insisted I go with Theworldisahead and Total Takeover with Saratoga, but their races weren't until August, so I decided to take the whole stable of 4 to Belmont.

All 4 arrived safely, and Joey ran 6 furlongs in 59.7 the next day, the bullet work at Belmont for the day. Wave Goodbye breezed 8 furlongs over the Belmont turf in 1:35.3. After breezing them a few days later, they were ready for their races.

Theworldisahead and Total Takeover worked 8 furlongs the same day as Wave Goodbye, except Total Takeover ran it in 1:34 and Theworldisahead in 1:33.2, nearly a track record.