Through The Dirt and Fame (major revisions)

Chapter Thirty-Eight

-Breeders Cup Distaff Day-

Today was Distaff day and the world was watching to see which top filly would win. Australia champion Gentle Kindgom? European champion Sea The Sky? Japanese champion Legendary Lady or American champion Emily The First? Who was the chosen favorite for the Breeders Cup Distaff.

"The Grade 1 Breeders Cup Distaff for fillies and mares is in 15 minutes, we have a field of 12 this year, your field is:

1. Gentle Kingdom 5/1

2. Sea The Sky 4/1

3. Legendary Lady 2/1

4. Scandalous 12/1

5. Jewelous 9/1

6. Seaholder 8/1

7. Tonalist's Princess 47/1

8. Emily The First 2/3

9. Monarcha 12/1

10. Red Hot Rose 9/1

11. Little Lana 11/1

12. Zeara 3/1

Earlier today, International Racing Partners won't the Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf with Alex Jones who was at 8/1. They also won the Breeders Cup Turf with See A Giant. They have Scorpion in the Breeders Cup Marathan, and Iconic Style in the Xspressbet Sprint."

Emily pranced around in the paddock, she swung her head and the crowd let out an awe as she did it almost elegantly. Everyone was telling their jockeys instructions, but Jack and I had no instructions for Nicole, cause she is going to let Emily run wherever she wants. I stood next to Jack and Nicole, we just studied Emily's movements, just in case there was anything bothering her. But she showed no signs of discomfort. I looked at our competition, our only concerns were for Sea The Sky, Zeara, and Gentle Kingdom. Those horses were going to come off the pace, we also wanted Emily near Jewelous and Scandalous, but again. It was Emily's call.

"Everyone looks good. They're going to give us a run for our money." I said, Jack elbowed me softly.

"She's not getting beat. If anything, I know Little Lana and Legendary Lady are going to be with Emily, they don't want her getting away. But no one knows where Emily is going to be.

A TVG reporter came up to Jack and I.

"Jack, Nathan can we get some converge on you for a moment please?" The woman asked, we nodded. She nodded to the cameraman.

"Okay Tim, I'm here with the owners of Emily The First, Jack and Nathan. Where is Emily going to be going in to the first turn?" She asked.

"Well, I was thinking more like the front. We want Emily to not boxed in or stuck wide into the turn." I said, obviously what I said was a lie. I had no clue where Emily was going, but if I said the front everyone that wants to follow her. Will go right to the lead expecting Emily to be there.

"Now, judging my how Emily is acting in the paddock do you think she is going to win?"

"Definitely, she has started acting like this when she ran in the Travers. She's actually really excited for the race. Emily knows when it's a big race or a small race and today in sure she knows it's a very big race." Jack said.

"I wish you luck today." She said and smiled at the camera. The Camerman stopped the camera and the woman turned to hs. "I have a bet on the 8 and I think she a going to win. It was an honor talking with you guys." She said and left.

"Riders up!" I turned to Nicole and gave her a leg up.

"Good luck ladies." I said and Nicole smiled and started for the track.

-Nicole's POV-

We cantered up to the gates and stopped and waited. One by one we all entered the gates for the Distaff. Red Hot Rose went in and then we were lead in. I didn't look left, and I didn't look right. I just leaned close to Emily and looked a head. We waited for the bell and full view of the track with anticipation. Emily's ears were pointed forward and her head was facing straight. The last horse loaded in and the crowd went silent as we waited for the start.

Ring! Clang!

Emily ran out of the stall and quickly slowed and settled behind the pack. The rest of the field except for Sea The Sky, Zeara and Gentle Kingdom. There was a gap between us and the rest I the field who were setting a blazing pace. I looked behind us and Zeara was about a length behind, Gentle Kingdom was along side us on the rail and Sea The Sky on the outside of us. We were about 5 lengths away from the horses who were leading us into the backstretch. I didn't make any moves on Emily, I just let her have all control. The leaders started to slightly tire and the stalkers started to close on them. The closest to us was the fast fading Red Hot Rose who dropped to last about half way down the backstretch, then all of us went to the outside and slowly made our way around the field. The only one still on the lead was Legendary Lady, the Japanese challenger. We glided into the home turn and it was the five of us left. Emily picked up halfway in the turn and she slowly opened but Zeara and Sea The Sky stayed with us. The end of the final turn came to an end and we entered Churchill Downs' long stretch to home and I chirped to Emily and started pushing her along, then I realized. Zeara was still along side us. Emily saw this and wheezed. She was acting. If she tricked the other filly into thinking she was tired, she wouldn't try as hard. Mike Smith had a smile plastered on his face as he heard the wheeze. Then Emily turned her head to the stands and stuck her you he out. She does this every morning cause she's the laziest morning horse in the world. We ran half way down the stretch and I noticed Zeara's legs slow, she wasn't tired she thought she was winning. The I took my whip and flicked it at Emily and instantly, she turned her head straight, pulled her tongue in her mouth and lost the wheezing. Mikes smile disappeared when he saw this and when he asked Zeara to get back into the race, it was already too late. Emily opened a two length lead and continued to lengthen her lead. The crowd roared at the sight and Emily flicked her ears forward and drastically picked up speed. I just hand rode her to the finish. I stood up before the wire and listened to the call.

"Emily The First! In an absolute runaway! She just left Zeara behind! It's Emily The First, by 10 lengths on the wire! What a performance, by the best filly in the world."

I put my fist into the air as we galloped out, and pat Emily's neck. I slowed her to a trot and turned her to stands and trotted back. I walked Emily along the rail, and her fans cheered for her as she did. I met Jack and Nathan in front of the Winners Circle as they put the Breeders Cup Garland over Emily's shoulders and we were lead into the Circle. We posed for a moment and then I hopped off and took her saddle off and weighed in, a friend of mine told me she'd take it back to my locker for me so I could go with Jack and Nathan for the trophy.

"Your 2019, Breeders Cup Distaff champion, Emily The First. I've got to say Jack your filly looked done coming down the stretch. What did you think when you saw that?" They asked.

"Well, we knew she was acting. Emily does that In the mornings sometimes, cause she's a lazy girl when she gets us. She apparently did the same in the Susans earlier this year. I had no bad thoughts slip into my mind when I say that." Jack said.

"Now Nicole, you came off the pace, what encouraged you to do that?" The man asked.

"Oh I didn't do anything. It was all Emily, all I did was get her out of the gates and tell her when to go. She's really a smart filly and the fact that she can run a race by herself is really anazing." I said smiling.

"Congratulations you guys on your amazing filly's win. I hope to see her next year." He said.

"Thank you." Nathan said and we all turned and left, Jack high fived me and hugged me.

"Well done. Now our last stop," he looked to Nathan. "The Eclipse Awards"