“The first time I sat on him, as a two year-old,” Jen says, “I was like, this horse is special.”
“This horse” is the very large Going for It, a son of Partner’s Hero out of the winning Press Card mare Push My Luck, and Jen is a former exercise rider for Jonathan Sheppard, who trains the three year-old.
It’s a common story, of course: the bond between a horse and the people who work most closely with him. And Jen has all the markers: the pet name, the history, the affectionate stories.
A common story, yes, but also the story that makes the racing world go ’round: the horse that touches the heart.
And while it’s easy enough for a trainer, rider, or owner to love a stakes-winning star, what keeps most horses fit and happy is that somebody does love them, even when the horse isn’t much.
And so Going for It has at least one devotee attend his first race. How does it go? You’ll have to watch the video to find out.
And as for what comes next, Going for It is entered at Penn National on Thursday. Our Midweek Movie is below.
