Keeping Tomorrow's Promises

Second Start

"Who's the big black horse?" Dani Stringland asked from her window seat in the Frontrunner restaurant.

"That's Kenneth Valdez's colt Fired Up," her sister Calley replied.

"I like him," Dani took a bite of her salad.

"We'll have to keep an eye on him," her father replied, "might be a nice addition to the barn."

"Hey check it out!" Calley pointed in her program, "he's a FireFight colt out of Burning House."

"Burning House is by Crash N Burn right?" Dani took another bite of her salad.

"Yes and she won the Distaff at a 30-1 longshot," Calley grinned at her sister, "she won four graded stakes two of those being grade 1 races."

"She had stamina, just not a great turn of foot," Their mother, Carol, joined the conversation, "she couldn't close on the field. If she got out in front she would win easily."

"Well shall we see how her son does?" Dani pointed to the gates as they flew open.

The black colt skipped to the lead right out the gate and settled into his position. The family watched the race concentrating on the colt. They passed the quarter and Dani looked at the time, 21 and change, flashing back at her. The colt was flying down the backstretch. She gritted her teeth thinking that he was going to fade back after that pace. When they rounded the turn and the colt took off, Calley jumped up and pressed herself against the window. Dani couldn't believe what she was seeing. The colt bounded away before her eyes to win the race by a good seven or eight lengths.

"He's definitely a FireFight," Calley took her seat again.

"We're keeping an eye on him," Carol nodded as she read the final fractions.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Connie grabbed her bag and headed out of the jocks room. She stopped at the fountain to watch the final part of the crowd leave for the day. She decided to go back to the barns to see Sandego one more time before heading home. Connie entered Kenneth's barn and went right to the stall of the colt. He was laying down, his eyes closed as he napped. She let out a quiet whistle to alert him of her presence. She slipped under the stall guard and knelt down next to the big bay.

"Hey buddy," she ran her fingers through his mane, "I see your potential."

The colt opened his eyes and lifted his head to the girl. She stroked his face and smiled.

"I hope everyone else does too."

"Hey Markus," Kenneth walked up to the girl.

"Hey boss," she replied, "looks like he came out of the race alright."

"He did," Kenneth nodded then turned facing the girl, "How would you like to ride Express Line in his next race?"

Connie looked at him stunned. She couldn't believe what Kenneth was saying.

"I would be honored!" she replied.

"Awesome," The trainer smiled, "I'll see you in the morning."

"See you tomorrow."

Connie couldnt help but smile. She was getting her shot at being a jockey, a real jockey. Kenneth was opening the door for her and she was truly greatful.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kenneth sat in his home office watching Sandego's race over and over again. He wondered what the horse would have done if he hadn't been bounced around like a bumper car and cut off. He closed down the link then shut his laptop. Kenneth got up and walked to his bedroom ready to retire for the night.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sara bounced out of her bed ready for the day. Her father's prized filly was running that afternoon. She ran to the bathroom to get ready excited for the race that afternoon. She drove down to the track rolling in at a much later time than usual. She had decided to skip workouts for the day to focus on the races. She was about to step out of her car when her phone rang. It was a usual thing for her but when she saw the caller ID she bit her lip.

"Hello," she answered the phone.

"Sara, how are you?" Violet Dolphin, the owner of Cloverleaf farms, Tomorrow's Promises, and Sara's stepmom replied back.

"Are you coming out for the race today?" Sara asked, feeling herself cringe.

She loved her dad, but she hated her step mom.

"My flight just landed so I should be there in a couple hours," Violet answered.

"Awesome," Sara faked the joy she didn't feel, "Ill let dad know."

"See you soon sweetheart!" With that the women hung up.

Sara dropped her head on the steering wheel and let out a groan. A tapping on her window interupted her frustrations. She rolled down the window not even lifting her head.

"You alright there Destin?" asked Leo Green.

"The stepmom is coming in for the races," She looked at him out of the corner of her eye.

"Oh that sucks," Leo gritted his teeth.

"Can you hide me?"

"I got horses to ride," Leo laughed, "One of them being that filly."

Sara let out a sigh.

"Oh well. Have to face her eventually."