Laura walked up the hill
toward the mailbox. She smiled as the paperboy huffed and puffed up the hill. She grinned
and took the paper. She waved and looked at the headline. She saw one word, Derby. She
knew what was on the front page.
She raced down the hill and walked past the
racehorse barn. Universal had just finished his noon workout and was contentedly grazing in
his paddock. He raised his head and whinnied, trotting gracefully over to Laura.
“Hey, boy, guess what’s in the news today?”
Before Universal could move a muscle a
shot of bay and black came charging past Laura. Hollywood Act, a.k.a Minx, had escaped
Jackie, one of the grooms, again. The bold yearling had invented her own game of tag, and
only she considered it fun.
"Minx! Get back here!", cried Jackie hopelessly. Laura
giggled and laughed, "Tell her to come. Maybe she’ll actually do it. Then, we can move
onto sit and lay down!"
"I like the lay down part!", Jackie finally cornered Minx
and caught her halter. "I hope Dark Side’s foal isn’t like this! We should keep them
separated, Minx is anything but a good role model!"
Laura grinned and finally got to
the newspaper. Then, she read the headline, "[b]Can’t Catch Me of Stillwater
Farms takes the Kentucky Derby[/b]"
Laura then looked up, for a corner of
the newspaper had begun moving. Universal was trying to see how paper tasted. Laura pushed
his muzzle away, and he galloped off. The chestnut streched out into full stride. Laura
sighed. Universal had lost his chance at the Triple Crown, but the Kentucky Derby was dirt
anyways, Universal preferring turf. But then, Laura looked at Minx, who was playfully
prancing about a distraught Jackie. Then, she turned to Dark Side, and looked at her sides.
Who knows who could be in there? She grinned. Maybe Universal wasn’t going to be a Triple
Crown winner, but the young legends could be a promise for greatness.
Thanks, everyone!