Chapter 3

Marcus waved goodbye to his father, then went on the hunt.

* * * *

He found the first stallion, Princeton Review, in Barn Three, but was unimpressed. In person, the stallion had a reedy look through the chest, so Marcus gave the owner a polite handshake and said goodbye. He checked his program book; Knockaround Farms had twelve stalls in Barn Two. When he arrived, the stallion, Gabriel’s Demon, was in the warm-up ring, trotting around the arena with a long stride.

Gabriel’s Demon was a stunning gray with a silver mane and tail, and the required red knot braided into his tail to show he was a kicker. He was listed at 17.3 hands, a big horse, but his conformation was so balanced that he looked smaller until he got up close. He wore a flashy red canvas bridle and matching saddle pad, with the Knockaround Farms logo on it. Even his polo wraps were red.