Through The Dirt and Fame (major revisions)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

-3 weeks later, Long Beach, New Jersey-

We had left Belmont a few days after the another Goose. Leaving New York, wondering where Emily had gone. The Haskell was the race we had our eyes set on. To face the boys and prove her greatness. The post draw was today, we had asked Monmouth the keep Emily a secret and they had kindly agreed.

Jack, Mike and I were all at the post draw. We had 9 other colts to beat.

"Welcome to the William Hill Haskell Invitational post draw, there are 10 horses running this year. One filly." Everyone looked at us and we all smiled. "Let's get to the post draw."

Some of the best colts were running in the Haskell. In The Moment and October Miracle being the some of the toughest, Unwanted being the one to beat, Prince Sham right up there with Unwanted. Easy Flyer and Another Weekend were going to be the pace, Jazz Majesty was going to be shooting from off the pace. The other two were Cryptical and The Giant.

They went through each name, and each owner picked a position. We weren't so lucky. Everyone avoided the 10 position. Which was the only spot left for us, Emily had never broke from the extreme outside, she had never broke without someone next to her. This left us worrying.

"The final post positions are:

1. Cryption

2. Jazz Majesty

3. Another Weekend

4. Prince Sham

5. October Miracle

6. The Giant

7. Easy Flyer

8. In The Moment

9. Unwanted

10. Emily The First

We'll see you all next week for the race. We wish you all luck." I got up and looked to Jack and Michael.

"Well, we just have to live with what we got." Jack said. "Shes next to the Triple Crown winner. Unwanted is a pretty sharp breaker and sharp on speed. I mean he destroyed See The Giant and Prince Sham in the Belmont. He won by 25, 30 lengths? That hasn't been seen since the great Secretariat and Risen Star. We have to watch Unwanted over everyone else."

"What about October Miracle and In The Moment?" Michael asked.

"They aren't a problem. They can't get over the Juvenile distance, why should we worry about them winning the Haskell. We new to worry about Unwanted and Prince Sham." Jack looked at Michael an I. "You need to keep Emily off the pace, don't give her control. Hold her back. I want you with Unwanted and Prince Sham at all time. Or until the stretch." I nodded.

"Yeah, Easy Flyer and Another Weekend should be the pace. They'll lead until halfway down the backstretch, and then likely Unwanted and Prince Sham will make their moves and so will you." Michael nodded.

"I got it guys." He said I nodded.

"Let's get started on her breaking." Jack said and we left heading to the Stakes Barn.

We could see Emily's chestnut head poke out of the stall when she heard us coming. Her ears pricked forward and head was raised. She softly whinnied as we approached.

"We can start gate training tomorrow, and train her in the gates up to Haskell day." Jack said.

"Well, everyone now knows she's not going to the CCA Oaks, but she's now facing the best colts in the country. She won't be the heavy favorite. Her chances of beating that field are as good as the rest." I said, the colts would be tougher for Emily. They are brutal, full of the undeniable courage to win and they fight for it. Emily has only fought to win twice. The other times, she practically walked her way to win. She has to run her heart out. The boys, will toughen her style.

"Well, Unwanted is apparently her new rival. Taking Duchess Of Winter out of the photo. Unwanted is a hundred times the horse she is, Unwanted may not be perfect, but he fight. Oh he fights. Him and Prince Sham. They both are hundred times the horse Duchess is. If Emily beats them, then. She's automatically the top 3 year old in the country. Maybe the top horse. She's one of the best fillies. But she can be better." Jack said.

"I know for a fact, even if we beat Unwanted. He's getting Horse of the Year, Moment of the Year and Champion 3 Year Old Colt. Emily is already likely for Champion 3 Year old Filly and that's it." I said, Unwanted practically already was HOTY. Nothing was taking his title, not even a filly.

"Nathaniel." I had only on the rare occasion heard Jack say my first name like that. Its my real first name but rarely did I hear it from Jack. "We always have next year." He said and winked.

Four year old Emily seems like we're asking a lot of her. But if she shows she wants to then I'll let her.

"Jack. We're thinking about the Haskell right now." I said and pet Emily's neck. "Your going to beat the boys Emily? Huh?" I asked and laughed, petting her big head. "Maybe you will."

This was going to be the hardest race of Emily's life.