CHAPTER TWO
The next morning, Benny was down in the racing barn, checking on the four horses that were promising for the races he had planned for them. The boys would be running in two handicaps, the Breeder's Cup Classic and some other races. The girls, however, were running in the same handicaps as the boys, the Kentucky Oaks and all three legs of the Triple Crown.
"Ben, we ready to load them?" Paul inquired.
"Yeah, Paul." Benny answered, clipping lead ropes to all four horses. He put Trumpin' Charlie and CloudJumpinRainbow together, since they traveled well together. Paul put La Vie Boheme and Lady Marmalade together, simply because there was no room in the four horse trailer to put them. Paul turned on the ignition and took off with the horses while Benny piled Alison, Brady and Isaac into the Range Rover and followed the trailer.
The drive to Kentucky was long and boring. The travel time was four days, which Benny was worried about. The handicaps that he entered all four horses in was scheduled in two days, so it didn't give them much time to get used to the track and jockey assignments.
Benny found the shedrow where the horses were stabled, and together the five of them got the horses to vet check and in their stalls.
"Hey dad, can I go with Paul to warm up Lady Marmalade?" Brady asked. Brady was nineteen-years-old and was a spitting image of Benny. Isaac was sixteen and looked more like his mother – fair skin, brown hair and hazel eyes.
"Sure, Brady. Be careful." Benny told his oldest, watching him tack up Lady Marmalade as Paul tacked up Trumpin' Charlie. Benny, Alison and Isaac went to check out the competition.
As they entered Holly Tree Farms shedrow, there was a beautiful gray horse in crossties, having its leg examined.
"Phil? Phil Lambert, is that you?" Benny asked the trainer that held the horse's head.
"Yeah, it's me. Who's asking?" the old trainer growled, turning to look at Benny. Seeing Benny, his green-blue eyes sparkled. "Benny Coffin! You old dog!"
"Who is this beautiful creature?" Benny asked, nodding to the horse.
"I was going to ask you the same thing. This is I'm Looking at Lucky."
"This is my wife, Alison and our youngest son Isaac. Alison and Isaac, this is Phil Lambert – an old friend of mine."
"It's nice to meet you." Alison told the trainer, shaking his hand.
"What's wrong with I'm Looking at Lucky?" Isaac inquired.
"Hurt his back leg in the trailer, nothing major." Phil answered.
Later that day, Benny decided to watch the workouts while Alison took Isaac out to dinner then back to the hotel. He smiled as Brady and Paul exited the oval. The horses looked tired and were sweating heavily.
"How'd they do?" Benny asked as he followed Brady and Paul to the wash racks.
"Perfect – Lady Marmalade was absolutely wonderful." Brady gushed as he washed the sweat and dirt off Lady Marmalade. Paul was already finished hosing down Trumpin' Charlie. Benny smiled at his son and went to the hotel where he and the family were staying.
Two days later, it was the Howard Jones Handicap, a two minute race. Benny had entered all four horses in it, so he was working on jockey assignments. He decided to have Paul ride Lady Marmalade, his female jockey named Terry ride CloudJumpinRainbow, another jockey named Helene ride Trumpin' Charlie and since Brady had gotten his jockey license before leaving New York, Benny gave him the go-ahead to ride La Vie Boheme.
"Jockeys to the saddling paddock." An official called. All four jockeys from No Day But Today Racing Stable mounted their horses – Paul and Lady Marmalade were first, Brady and La Vie Boheme were third, Helene and Trumpin' Charlie were sixth. Terry and CloudJumpinRainbow were the last ones on the field of eighteen.
"The horses are in the gate…And they're off! Out in front is Yero My Hero followed by CloudJumpinRainbow and Lady Marmalade. HomeGirlTrudy and Robin's View trail behind them….here they come down the stretch – it's Lady Marmalade in front, followed by Yero My Hero! And it's Lady Marmalade for the win! In second place it's Yero My Hero, followed by CloudJumpinRainbow and La Vie Boheme." The speaker on the overhead system announced. Benny, Alison and Isaac made their way down to the Winner's Circle to congratulate Paul and Lady Marmalade.
"Good girl, Lady." Benny praised as the five of them posed for pictures. Nothing could make Benny happier than he already was.
