Through The Dirt and Fame (major revisions)

Chapter Five

-Saratoga Racecourse Saratoga Springs, New York-

"Race number 4 the race before the first major stakes race at Saratoga, maiden fillies running first time out. 5 fillies entered, and 45 minutes till post."

Me as Jack waited as the fillies entered the paddock. Emily was looking sharp and ready to run.

"Now let's review the field, the one horse on the inside is, Emily The First a big chestnut filly by champion racehorse First War...just look at the muscle on that filly, she just towers over the others. I could've thought she was a colt at first sight honestly. She's the heavy favorite at 2-1."

The rest of the field consisted of the two Scandalous, the dark bay almost black filly is by Scandal Lew, she's owned and trained by Reed Farms. She's a close second favorite at even money 2-5. The three, Comeback by *Flashback, owned by *Winstar Farm, trained by *D. Wayne Lukas, she's at 8-1. The four, the outsider, Lily Raid by Rose Raid, her odds are at 15-1, she's owned by Cruget Stables, and trained by Art Sherman. Finally the five, Lucky Mischief by *Into Mischief, the gray filly is at 9-1."

Scandalous and Comeback where the ones to watch. I'd seen them around the track and they work like it's nothing.

"So Tom who's your picks?"

"Well, I'm gonna have to with the the one horse Emily The First, her pedigree is just flawless and her workouts have also been flawless and she looks flawless."

"I'm gonna have to with Scandalous, the two, she's by Scandal Lew who's by *Seattle Slew and out of Scandalously Affirmed, who's by *Affirmed and out of Secret Scandal and the mare is by the one and only *Secretariat. The filly, has many impressive works here at Saratoga."

Scandalous did have a pedigree of champions, having the last three Triple Crown winners in it, and two champion mares, who both have won the Triple Tiara. Emily, has First War, *War Emblem, Emmy's Love and Starspangledfinish, and many other horses.

"10 minutes to post."

The fillies walked out to the track and Jack walked up to me.

"I told Nicole to just give her full control and see what happens. She's only running 6 furlongs." I said as we sat in our seats at the top of the grandstands.

"Let's hope those are a quick 6 furlongs and she's the winner." Jack pat my back.

"Oh don't worry Nathan! She's got this remember?!" I nodded, I did say she has this race.

-Nicole's Point of View-

Emily is a big filly Jack seems to have a lot of confidence in her winning.

We approached the gates. Emily seems a bit uneasy at the sight of them. The gate worker walked up to Emily and the filly quickly took a few steps back and raising her head high.

"Woah, woah, easy girl." the gate worker said to the filly and grabbed her bridle and lead her closer to the gates. Before entering, she stopped and slightly reared and turned around. I pulled at the reins and turned her back to the gates and she walked in with the worker.

We waited for Scandalous and Comeback to enter.

Emily was starting to get uneasy, but finally Comeback entered and we were all in line.

Emily reared as soon as the gates opened, and she ran after the other fillies about 5 lengths behind. She cantered out of the gate sideways but corrected herself quickly which left her several more lengths behind, it's gonna take a lot for her to catch them. I gripped the reins and pushed them up her neck and leaned into her mane and started encouraging Emily along. Emily looked like she was gaining ground a little bit, I made kissy noises to her and I saw the 5 furlong pole fly by and I started pushing her faster. I've gotta say I've ridden quarter horses in races before and this is what she feels like. I looked up between her ears and saw the closest horse coming closer and then we flew past the 3 furlong pole. Jockeys started urging their horses and chirping at them, Emily and I passed Lucky Mischief and then Comeback, and Lily Raid and Scandalous. 2 furlongs, I whipped Emily and she responded with a tremendous burst of speed, and I used the whip again and she responded, I quickly looked behind us and saw the others way behind us. About half a furlong to go and Emily was still running on endless speed, one more crack of the whip and she gave one more burst of speed and we flew past the finish.

I slowed Emily to a canter and then a trot and turned her back to the stands. I looked to the board, and saw that Scandalous was second, Come Back was third and Lily Raid fourth. Her time for six furlongs was 1:06 flat. She knocked 2 seconds off *Speightstown's record, Speightstown, Eclipse champion sprinter, Breeders Cup Sprint champion, leading stallion. Woah.

"Emily The First the official winner of the fourth blew away the field winning by 15 lengths and setting a new track record for 6 furlongs. Honestly Tom I think this filly just stole the spot light from the Sanford. I know this isn't a stakes, but the filly reared at the start starting 8 lengths behind everyone, she ran the fastest quarter and flew past everyone in the turn and just ran away and didn't look back."

I stopped in front of the winners circle.

"Wow! Amazing run Nicole! Perfect!" Jack was really excited. "She is something!"

-Saratoga Barn A1, stall 24, 7 PM-Nathan

"What's next for her?" I asked.

"I'm thinking the Landaluce?" Jack waited for my response. "I know we have to ship her to Santa Anita for the race, but Breeders Cup is there again and if she keeps running like she did today. She'll be unbeatable."

"Hmm," I thought about it, Emily was brilliant today, even with a tardy start she still had a lot of run left, she knocked 2 seconds off Speightstown's record. "Okay. We'll run her in the Landaluce. Let's ship her out tomorrow."

"Yes! Santa Anita I hope you like Americas best filly!" Jack yelled.

"Shh! There are still trainers here."