Missy wakes up early the next morning. She heads to her farm to load up Something so they can make the trip to Ohio. When she gets there she sees Leslie is already there loading up the equipment in the trailer. Missy goes into the barn and puts Something’s shipping wraps and halter on. Something is looking to become the first filly to win the Little Brown Jug since Fan Hanover did it in 1980. Missy hooks Something’s lead rope to her halter and leads her to the trailer. Something heads right into the trailer with no issues. Leslie closes the trailer door. Missy and Leslie get into the truck and then leave for Ohio. Hours later they arrive at the Delaware County Fairgrounds. Missy opens up the trailer and backs Something out and leads her to designated barn for the horses racing in the Little Brown Jug. She finds the stall that has Something’s name on it. She puts Something in the stall and hooks her hay bag to the stall door. She also fills up her tub with her Purnia Race Ready feed. Leslie brings all the equipment over and sets it up.

Leslie - You look beat hon. Why don’t you go to the hotel and take a nap?
Missy - Can you take care of things here?
Leslie - Sure, I’ll train Something for you today.
Missy - Ok, I’ll be out later.

Missy leaves and goes to the hotel to get some sleep for a few hours. Leslie handles Something’s training session for the morning. Missy returns to the fairgrounds after lunch. She finds Leslie giving Something a bath after a quick mile over the track.

Leslie - I think she’s ready for Thursday.
Missy - How fast she go?
Leslie - I timed her in 1:50. She’s just as fast as those colts if not faster.
Missy - I’ll give her a light jog tomorrow and Wednesday. On race day she’ll be on the track a couple times before her elim.
Leslie - Do any of those colts scare you?
Missy - Hell no, only colt that could probably keep up with Something is that mutt Black Mercedes.
Leslie - I’m going to go back to the hotel and shower.
Missy - That’s fine I’ll stay here with her.

Leslie leaves and heads to the hotel for a shower while Missy stays with Something. Missy takes Something out of her stall and lets her graze. Then Something’s main competition shows up. He’s a smallish black stallion named Black Mercedes. Something raises her head and looks him right in the eye and snorts and then goes back to grazing. Something is a smart horse and is almost like a human athlete when they stare down their competition. Missy grabs Something and puts her back in her stall. She then ties Something’s jolly ball to the front of her stall. Missy decides to call Jordan to see how things are going at home.

Jordan - So nice to hear your voice baby. I miss you so much.
Missy - I miss you too. Wish you were here to share in this big moment for me.
Jordan - I know baby. I want to be there supporting you. Is there a way to watch Something’s races?
Missy - It should be on HRTV, the horse racing channel.
Jordan - Ok maybe I’ll get the guys to come over and we’ll have a viewing party.
Missy - Aww, you’re so great to support me in my racing stuff.
Jordan - It’s something you love doing and I want you to be happy.
Missy - Maybe one day I’ll name a foal after us.
Jordan - I would like that.
Missy - You ok sweetie? You sound awful.
Jordan - I have a little bit of a cold.
Missy - I don’t need to come home do I?
Jordan - No, I’ll be ok till you come home.
Missy - Go take something for it and then get back in bed.
Jordan - I think I will. I love you.
Missy - I love you too.

They hang up when Leslie comes back to see Missy smiling.

Leslie - Aww, did you call Jordan?
Missy - Yeah, I was missing him and had to hear the sound of his voice.
Leslie - Aww, is he ok that you aren’t there?
Missy - He doesn’t feel very good.
Leslie - Aww, what’s wrong?
Missy - The flu is running through the locker room and he ended up getting it.
Leslie - Does he need you at home?
Missy - He says he’ll be fine till we come home Thursday night.
Leslie - Aww, well hopefully the next few days go fast so you can be at home taking care of him.
Missy - We’ll hope so.

What a busy next 3 days for Missy, Leslie, and Something. It’s now Thursday, which means it’s now Little Brown Jug day. Missy is getting Something ready for her Jug elim when she hears Black Mercedes’s trainer say to his driver to do everything he can to make sure Something doesn’t win or make the Jug final. Missy tells her driver to keep his head on a swivel cuz everyone is going to be trying to get Something beat so he should just gun for the lead to keep her out of trouble. Call to post is played and the horses step onto the track. Something is going to be leaving from post position 2. Missy is pleased with the way she’s warming up. It’s time for the race. The horses leave the starting gate. Something guns for the lead and is about a length in front of the field when they hit the first turn. When the horses head into the final turn the second time around the track Black Mercedes is in the lead with Something in a very close second.

Track announcer - As the horses come into the final turn it’s Black Mercedes in front with Something Awesome, the filly, coming first over to challenge the leader. Western’s Ace is 3rd following the live cover from the filly. Mister Feelgood is 4th, Cactus Creek is 5th, Armbro Deuce is 6th, and trailing the field throughout has been North Star. Down the stretch they pace and it’s Something Awesome and Black Mercedes fighting tooth and nail. Something Awesome almost goes to her knees but somehow her driver is able to get her corrected and finish second to Black Mercedes in the first Little Brown Jug elimination in 1:52.3. Hold the phone folks there is a judges inquiry on the winner for possible interference to the 2 Something Awesome in the stretch drive. Please hold all tickets until the results are posted official.

The inquiry lasts several grueling minutes. The track announcer comes over the Pa system after he gets the ruling from the judges.

Track announcer - Ladies and Gentlemen the judges have disqualified the 1st place finisher, Black Mercedes, and placed him 2nd for causing interference to the 2 Something Awesome. Your new order of finish is 2, 5, 1, 6. Advancing to the final is Something Awesome, Black Mercedes, and Western’s Ace.

Missy and Leslie head over to the winner circle to greet their iron tough filly. Missy is interviewed after all the winner circle photos saying Something will be good to go for the final and that she knew her filly was going to have a target on her back being the best horse in the country. Missy walks Something back to back to the barn area so she can rest a little before the final which goes off as Race 18. The next handful of races pass and it’s now time for the second heat of the Little Brown Jug. If Something or the winner of the first elimination win this heat then there will be a champion and if someone else wins then there will be a 3 horse race off to determine a champion. Call to post is played and the horses step onto the track. Something is going to be leaving from post position 2. Missy is pleased with the way she’s warming up. It’s time for the race. The horses leave the starting gate. Something guns for the lead and is about a length in front of the field when they hit the first turn. When the horses head into the final turn the second time around the track Black Mercedes blows the turn when challenging for the lead. With his miscue Something is 3 ½ lengths ahead. She wins the Little Brown Jug in 1.49.3. A world record time. Missy and Leslie head over to the winner circle to greet their iron tough filly. Missy is interviewed after all the winner circle photos and she says Something will be skipping The Red Mile and will get ready for the Breeders Crown in 3 weeks and the Messenger after that. Missy walks her Jug champion back to the barn area. By the time she gets back to Something’s stall Leslie has been loading things up. Missy finishes taking Something’s equipment off of her and puts it in the equipment trunk. Leslie cleans out Something’s stall and puts everything in the trunk and then puts it inside the trailer. Missy and Leslie then load Something into the trailer and close it up. They get into the truck and leave for Pittsburgh. Hours later they’re back in Pittsburgh at the farm unloading everything. Missy backs Something out of the trailer and puts her back in her stall. She gives Something some food and water and then her and Leslie head for home. When Missy goes into her apartment and finds Jordan sound asleep on the couch. Not having the heart to wake him she just lays down beside him and goes to sleep till the next morning. A few weeks pass and it’s now the first part of October.

Notes