Nova

Before Dawn

It's been well over a year since I woke up before seven but despite my complaints and curses I'm glad my aunt decided to bring us here this morning as I watch two colts gallop in the early morning light. The first colt is a flashy eye catching chestnut called Shamrock's Memory, who according to my cousin was named for his older full sister a chestnut called Dancer's Lucky Shamrock, who only one twice in low level allowances but died giving it her all five years ago in a race at Aquaduct. The now sophomore colt came held out by a nose to win in the breeder's cup juvenile last October after what my cousin described as a race where nothing was on his side. He stumbled out of the gate, got boxed in and had to go wide around the final turn but still had enough energy to not just run down the leader but to hold his own against what many considered to be the best two year old in North America, if not in the world. His valiant effort did not go unnoticed and it earned him U.S champion two year old colt for 2019. In his first start of the year he added another win to his name in the Jerome stakes at Aquaduct, going to same distance that killed his sister. He'll be shipping out in a couple days for the Withers, at Aquaduct. After the Wither's, he'll get march off before the Wood Memorial, at Aquaduct. After the Wood Memorial, if all goes as planed he'll have earned himself a spot in the run for the roses. Of course I only know all this because Anna, give me a lecture on it and I'm half surprised she didn't give me a lecture on the triple crown of thoroughbred racing. I may have grown up on a Montana ranch but I know where your aiming a colt at the Kentucky derby, that your also gunning for a triple crown winner. His markingless bay partner Mythological Nightmare, isn't as mature as his buddy but he possess the same fluid stride. Watching the two colts brings back fond memories from my past. When me and Fergus, were younger we would offen race against each other to see who had the faster horse. Once or twice we did it bareback but mostly we did it in western saddles. Sometimes Fergus, and his little quarter Bobby, would win and sometimes I would win with my mustang mare Faith. Fergus, outgrew Bobby, by the time he was elven after five years together but Faith, lasted me up intill just a few weeks before the accident. We had let the horses spend the night outside in the pasture on a unusually warm winter's night. The next morning when I went to bring them into the barn I found Faith, laying on the ground behind the blue gate. The vet said it was probably a case of colic but it was impossible to say for sure. For the remaining few weeks before the accident I rode a buckskin quarter horse gelding called Bronze. Bronze, was a okay horse and got the job done although it was clear he had little if any talent for the work but he did his best. Faith, had great cow sense was capable of doing the job on her own while Bronze, as edger to learn as he was it felt like I was constantly having to babysit him and mange a herd of a couple hundred cattle. "Morning slacker" Willifred, the Pipperson's trainer mumbles as he stops his stopwatch. For the next hour or so Anna, gives me and my siblings a mini lecture on ever horse that graces the track. Around 8 the two year olds start coming and Enheduanna, is among the last on the track. Her markings make her stand out but her movement would also get your attention as she jogs around a turn. She's a eagle soaring the winds proudly, a regal lion, a young warrior already ready to march to battle. "Where's the wacko brindle? " I ask Anna, as I cut her off on her lecture. "Wacko brindle?  You must mean Nova. No one is dumb enough to try to saddle him much less ride him" Anna, tells me as we walk back to the stables. I'm leading Enheduanna, who's barely broken a sweat and Anna, is leading her neighbor Phoenix something.

I leave for Kentucky on Thursday. So excited can hardly wait for the trip. I'll be going to Ashford, old friends farm and the Kentucky derby museum