We won a somewhat less important race today-- the ninth race at Aqueduct Racetrack, at a mile and a sixteenth on the grass for horses bred in New York that had never won a race. Our horse, a three-year-old gelding named Mustang Island, was making his first start on the grass and the second start of his career. Because of a minor injury, he had not run in nearly a year and was too keen in the early stages of the race, fighting with the rider, Joe Bravo, to be allowed to extend himself. Once Bravo swung Mustang Island out in the stretch for running room and let him go, Mustang Island swept by the pace-setter and won going away.
Not only was the race not the New York Marathon, it also did not consist of a particularly good field of horses. But it is always fun to win a race and good to collect a purse. (Seven-to-one odds added a little spice as well!) And whenever one wins with a horse that has been asked to do something for the first time (in this case, run on the grass), and it accomplishes what one has asked of it rather easily, one cannot help dreaming a little.
