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Description
Horse: HTS Skipping Stones
Track: Sunland Park
Race: Sunland Park Oaks
Results: deadheat for 1st!

Featured: WW Don't Be Expecting Me

Story (532 words)
The Ethereal Acres team had specifically avoided Santa Anita for months as it seemed that breakdowns were a nearly daily report at the track. The track had been shut down and reopened multiple times (with no major adjustments to the track itself) and the breakdowns continued occurring. It could be a string of very bad luck, but it also could have something to do with the very wet weather that the track had experienced. Ethereal Acres unanimously agreed that that dirt track wasn't worth the risk at the moment. Especially after the success that the team had experienced internationally, Alyssa and Richard began pushing a turf agenda onto morning training, including some of their dirt notables.
But being young and never previously injured, Skipping Stones was of least concern for injury on dirt at the moment. The team let her continue eating up her familiar dirt track in the mornings. After the Breeder's Cup the team had given her a significant rest period, and the filly was eager to work when shipped back to the track. She was one of EA's easiest horses to work with. She was shy, but so much to be called fearful. She was responsive. Even when eager to run, she never lugged on and on against Jake or Liam's hands. She was already a pro and it was still early in her 3 year old year. The team had vowed to never compare her and Iwar directly--partially because they felt it would jinx them both--but they all worked so hard to make sure that Iwar wasn't a one hit wonder from their barn, and Skipper was the recipient of that focus this year.
The decision to enter Skipper in the Sunland Park Oaks was more about convenience than prepping her for the Oaks. Alyssa and Ethan hadn't written the Oaks off for Skipper, but more left it up to Skipper herself. They didn't want to force her through a string of prep races. This was a decent shot for her; if she flourished they'd take her to the Oaks and if not they could find many more suiting options for her. This field wasn't stacked but was certainly far from weak. WW Don't Be Expecting Me was lightly raced, but the SandDollar team had found the filly's rhythm. The railbirds were chirping about her.
Although the sky was bright and sunny the morning of the Oaks, the horses were more jittery than average. This didn't affect Skipper too much--if anything she seemed to be wary of the unpredictable fillies around her--but others definitely seemed to sense the impending cold front, as did older trainer's aching joints and previous injuries. Everything was set for Skipper, though. No sudden changes. No surprises. Jake didn't even have any races that day before Skipper's race. The team was free to watch some local claiming races and settle in for the day. Some of the two year olds were particularly peculiar. Bucking in the paddocks, changing leads at the wrong time, and paddling into the middle of the track as they turned for home.
By the time it was time to get set for the Oaks, the team was relaxed and confident.

References:
Skipper + Jake
Vera + jockey

Not as much effort in this as I'd planned, but I'd be damned if I wasn't going to repay SkyWolfSpirit 's feature of Skipper. ;u;

Description
Horse: HTS Skipping Stones
Track: Sunland Park
Race: Sunland Park Oaks
Results: deadheat for 1st!

Featured: WW Don't Be Expecting Me

Story (532 words)
The Ethereal Acres team had specifically avoided Santa Anita for months as it seemed that breakdowns were a nearly daily report at the track. The track had been shut down and reopened multiple times (with no major adjustments to the track itself) and the breakdowns continued occurring. It could be a string of very bad luck, but it also could have something to do with the very wet weather that the track had experienced. Ethereal Acres unanimously agreed that that dirt track wasn't worth the risk at the moment. Especially after the success that the team had experienced internationally, Alyssa and Richard began pushing a turf agenda onto morning training, including some of their dirt notables.
But being young and never previously injured, Skipping Stones was of least concern for injury on dirt at the moment. The team let her continue eating up her familiar dirt track in the mornings. After the Breeder's Cup the team had given her a significant rest period, and the filly was eager to work when shipped back to the track. She was one of EA's easiest horses to work with. She was shy, but so much to be called fearful. She was responsive. Even when eager to run, she never lugged on and on against Jake or Liam's hands. She was already a pro and it was still early in her 3 year old year. The team had vowed to never compare her and Iwar directly--partially because they felt it would jinx them both--but they all worked so hard to make sure that Iwar wasn't a one hit wonder from their barn, and Skipper was the recipient of that focus this year.
The decision to enter Skipper in the Sunland Park Oaks was more about convenience than prepping her for the Oaks. Alyssa and Ethan hadn't written the Oaks off for Skipper, but more left it up to Skipper herself. They didn't want to force her through a string of prep races. This was a decent shot for her; if she flourished they'd take her to the Oaks and if not they could find many more suiting options for her. This field wasn't stacked but was certainly far from weak. WW Don't Be Expecting Me was lightly raced, but the SandDollar team had found the filly's rhythm. The railbirds were chirping about her.
Although the sky was bright and sunny the morning of the Oaks, the horses were more jittery than average. This didn't affect Skipper too much--if anything she seemed to be wary of the unpredictable fillies around her--but others definitely seemed to sense the impending cold front, as did older trainer's aching joints and previous injuries. Everything was set for Skipper, though. No sudden changes. No surprises. Jake didn't even have any races that day before Skipper's race. The team was free to watch some local claiming races and settle in for the day. Some of the two year olds were particularly peculiar. Bucking in the paddocks, changing leads at the wrong time, and paddling into the middle of the track as they turned for home.
By the time it was time to get set for the Oaks, the team was relaxed and confident.

References:
Skipper + Jake
Vera + jockey

Not as much effort in this as I'd planned, but I'd be damned if I wasn't going to repay SkyWolfSpirit 's feature of Skipper. ;u;