So, what did you get?

"So what

did you get?" Sharon Lawrence could barely conceal her excitement.

On the other end of

the phone, Teri teased her shamelessly. "Well, you’ll appreciate Ferdinand’s Image. She’s

/your/ favorite color."

“Broodmare?” Sharon enquired.

"No, still in training.

Four-year-old filly, from Ferdinand and a Dancer’s Image mare. Won a distance steeplechase

maiden…yeah, I know. We’re collecting distance steeplechase fillies, but I love her

lines."

"Yeah, I don’t think we have any Ferdinand /anywhere/ in the stock. Going to

run her the rest of the season?"

"At this point, I don’t want to scramble around

finding a breeding, so I might as well." Teri sounded thoughtful, "I doubt she’ll do too

well, but…she was cheap."

"That’s the tone of somebody about to tell me she bought

something that wasn’t."

"THere’s a difference, Sharon, between cheap and bargain

basement."

“Black Light II?” Sharon mentioned, cheerfully, "Broken

Promises?"

Teri rolled her eyes, even though Sharon couldn’t see her. "Groupie. I

know. Truth is, we had insane luck and we can’t expect it to last. But before you get mad,

Ferdinand’s Image was two and a half kay."

“ANd the other mare?” Sharon prompted. "I

know you too well."

“THirty-five and a half,” Teri admitted sheepishly.

"Okay,

that I think we can afford, although we have to watch it…we have nominations to pay for,

remember. She’d better be worth it, though."

"Well, she’s by Kentucky Dream, who I

know isn’t a great sire…"

“Making excuses, Teri…”

"Her dam produced a

stakes-placed two year old by Affirmed."

"That sounds a bit more promising, but a stud

like Affirmed can produce on any mare."

“Exactly.”

“…”

"Guess who

she’s in foal to for next year. I’m worried about the early due date, but…"

"Okay,

okay. I forgive you…"