GIRL: There used to be horses in that barn
At least that's what my grandfather says
We're probably the only horse farm in Lexington Kentucky
that doesn 't have one horse
- Not one - (Thunder rumbles)
MAN: It might rain.
Pat said it'd be a good day for me to er... come down to the diner.
M A N Yeah, we
WOMAN: Just be breakfast and lunch three days a week
MAN: If you 're working at the diner she comes home from school to nobody or?
Well, Pop lives right next door.
I know you two don 't talk much, but he and Cale get along real well.
- And er... - And er... what?
You've been promising her for months you would take her to work with you.
And I will. I will, Lil. But not today, honey. I got a big race.
WOMAN: What do I tell her?
MAN: Tell her I was running late and I didn 't have time to wait
- You tell her. - Honey, I'm going to work.
(Engine starts)
All right, get in. I don 't wanna be late.
There you go
(Thunder rumbles)
- 58 and one. - (Muffled reply from walkie-talkie)
All right, send Sonya. Don 't let her out. I just wanna... I just wanna watch her action.
(Horse whinnies in distance)
I like him.
Her.
I like her, too.
(Chatter)
MAN: Can I get a bucket of multigrain in stall number three please?
- Good morning sir - Good morning.
Balon, you remember Cale?
Sure. She doesn 't come around any more.
Wow, honey, you've gotten so big.
Senorita, buenos dias.
Eddie let's take a look at Goliath 's Boy
- That means good morning. - Good morning.
He's got legs like steel. Take him in.
Whoa, whoa, whoa!
BALON: What have you got there? Candy? Hey, Sonya. There you go, Sonya.
Ooh, yeah. That's Sonya. She likes candy.
- Sonya likes Twizzlers. - Yeah?
Well... who's this?
Got a new jockey?
Manny, this is my daughter Cale.
Oh, hey.
Manolin Vallarta. The greatest jockey in the world.
- Fattest jockey in the world. - Fat?
Chacho, I'm too tall to race.
Look at you. Look at these clothes. This is a barn, not a disco.
- Cambiate la ropa! - Ooh!
He likes the way I dress. (Chuckles)
Now, yo u soo yo u r daddy?
You see how he's feeling the legs? You see that?
Yeah well we just wanna make sure the horse is sound and healthy
Your daddy always say you listen to a horse, he'll tell you how he feels.
- OK. Thanks, Mark. - (Horse whinnies)
(Tannoy announcement in background)
I don 't know, boy. I'll tell you, I don 't know.
The leg feels fine, but she keeps... she keeps jumping at that.
She wants to get back in her stall.
Vamos, Sonya. Vamos.
Venga, venga!
She gonna race today?
Of course she's gonna race today.
Hello, Mr Palmer.
Nice to see you. Wasn 't sure you were coming today.
I er... I don 't believe I've ever met...
Prince Tariq Abal.
PALMER: Well, well, Sonya is just as pretty as she is fast.
Sir, I'll meet you at our box after I talk with my staff.
- What's the story here? - She's acting funny.
Some heat in that right front this morning
llm not sure if she wants to run today
I don 't feel any heat in that leg. What did the vet say?
The vet and paddock judge both passed her as fine, but...
Well, good. That's all that matters.
Sir, I'm just saying I don 't... I don 't think she should go today.
Prince Tariq flew his personal Tr3Tr 8,000 miles...
for what?
I don 't know, to win the Jansen Handicap, I guess.
To beat his brother Sadir.
Tariq only flies in if he can see one of his horses run against one of his brother's horses.
We're messing with a champion two-year-old who's won her first two races this year.
This'll make three.
She's a little star, no doubt about it.
She's a lot more than a star, Everett.
I'm listening to the horse. She's telling me she could do better with rest.
You'd do better by listening to me.
Look, she's a nice horse.
But I've spent millions developing a stable of horses for Prince Tariq
so he can beat his brother.
Now, I know you got big plans... but just do your job.
OK?
Daily maintenance, overseeing the workouts - your job.
Picking her races - my job
Are we good?
- Yeah, we're good. - Good.
She's morning-line favourite.
(Claps) Let's go.
Have one of the Mexicans walk her round to settle her.
OK, Mark.
You heard the boss. Let's go.
(Fanfare in background)
TANNO Y: Now the big race the Jansen Handicap starting on the track
No 2 Ocean Blend carrying two pounds over weight
You own a horse, sweetie? This is just for owners.
Cale
Cale.
Huh.
BALON: Hey-hey. - Hey.
See her, honey? Look at that. No.5, right there.
- That's our girl CALE: Think she'll win?
- I got $10 that says she's gonna win. - (Laughs)
TANNO Y: From the Wishman Stables here's Rapid Cat
Dark Fire on one of the outside gates
(Horses whinnying)
Here we go, baby.
(Snorts and stamps hooves)
(Race bell rings)
TANNO Y: And away they go!
Easy. Nice and easy now.
(Shouts of encouragement)
MANNY: She's fourth Come on sweetheart
- Yeah. - Go on, Sonya!
M aypo t h s s yo u r day, h o h oy Co m o o h
(Excited shouts from crowd)
Bring it home, baby.
Come on, Sonya.
- Yeah! - (Squeals)
(Whinnies)
(Shocked gasps)
(Crowd falls silent)
(Whinnies)
Oh, Manny.
- We gotta put her down, Ben. - It's OK. I got it here.
Cannon bone.
- Look llm sorry Ben We gotta put her down - She all right?
- Whoa! - Hey, easy, girl. Easy.
Come on, it's OK.
Not here. Not here. Take her back to her stall, but not here.
- Come on - Attagirl
(Sonya whinnies)
(Heavy rain)
- Ben, I can 't put her down until you sign this. - I want some X-rays taken.
Cale, come here. Come on. Stay out of the way.
What's the point? She's finished.
B N do not be e ve th s
I told him.
- What? What'd you tell me? - I warned you she wasn 't right.
- You put the saddle on her. - What? Wait a minute!
Lunderstand, it's sad when these things happen.
- Sad? - Yes, sad. This is an athlete.
Well, then, you just knowingly killed a $ Tr50,000 athlete.
- We need to make a move here. - Tell me
It's her cannon bone
You pushed her. She'd have run in the Breeders' Cup. She was special.
Now s h o: S got a p roko h og a h d t: S ovo r
You don 't care about anybody, do you? Horses or people.
Well, in fact, I do, Ben. That's why I'm giving you the opportunity to find a new job.
- You firing me? - And take your Mexicans with you.
They're men, Palmer. They got names.
(Sonya whinnies)
- You owe me money. - You'll get your cheque, first of the month.
You pay me now 9000 for the last three months
Here's six.
Six. Take it or leave it.
I'll leave it. We agreed on nine. You're three short.
- Wait for a cheque. - I'm not waiting!
For God's sake, please put that horse down!
Dan, Dan, Dan, wait.
I'll take the 6,000 and the horse.
$6,000 and a dead horse and I never have to hear from you again?
- That's right. - Take the money
(Sonya whinnies)
Sedate her, Dan. Put her down heavy for the night.
It'll cost you 400 just to dispose of her body.
Balon hook up a trailer
- You got a hard head, like your old man. - Cale, go to the truck.
Living in that horse farm with no horses.
Balon, just... Manny, take her out to the truck.
Delusional. It's a disease with you Cranes. Get out before it rubs off on you.
BEN: Manny? - Yeah?
Go get the old man. Tell him it's an emergency.
Hi, Balon. I need the heavy winch, the tow and easy sling to get her in this stall.
- OK where's that? - It 's in the back stall there
- Oh OK I got it LIL: Where have you been?
God, I've been so worried. Honey.
- What's going on? - I had a horse go down.
Oh, my God.
- Anything else, boss? - Give Balon a hand, will you?
- Manny? - Hello.
MAN: What can you geniuses be calling an emergency at night in the rain?
This about a horse?
Good night.
Inever ask you for anything.
That's right. I haven 't heard from you in months.
That's why your business is so great.
I got a filly in there with a broken cannon bone, Pop.
Thoroughbred?
Raco r?
Put her down.
You had a horse with a shattered cannon bone once.
You harnessed it up somehow, the leg healed and that horse was fine.
That was a long time ago. You were just a little boy, Benjamin.
But I remember it. It worked.
He was an old lead pony.
Healed just enough to walk around for a few more years before I finally put him down.
Which is what you'd do if you had any sense at all.
Let's get her in the stall.
LIL: Cale. - I'm going to need to help them, Mom.
Cale, I'm gonna spend the night with her. You go on inside with Mom.
BEN: All right. BALON: Right up there?
- Yeah. - Right, Manny?
BEN: Can you get up to the big winch Manny?
Let's hook it up. Come on.
(Exhales)
- Was it a hard fall? - Hard enough.
She didn 't get bumped or anything. She... she just went down.
That's the one from the track And my X -rays confirm it
It's a spiral fracture of the cannon bone.
BEN: But it is nondisplaced - She'll never race again?
No, honey.
- But she might walk again - There's a chance. It's up to her.
Try and keep her calm.
Stable rest.
That cast I put on her should hold.
We'll go really easy on her, Doc.
- Let's stay close on this - You got it
All right, let's pull all the harness stuff.
Put the straps and the pulley in the tack room.
Ben, when Mr Palmer fired you, us yesterday, well...
We all don 't have no jobs.
I'm sorry, guys. I forgot. Here.
There's a thousand each.
What's wrong?
Well, we train racehorses, right?
And... she's not going to race no more, so...
So why hang around to help you get a broken racehorse to walk?
(Manny and Balon whisper)
You know who this horse was sired by?
Dreamcatcher.
You know who that was?
Pop, w h o was Droa m catc h o r?
Won the Dubai World Cup in '96.
Won seven of 11 graded stakes and over $3,000,000.
We get her healed enough to breed her to a decent stud,
sell that yearling for... I don 't know, maybe...
If it's a colt with good confirmation, maybe 300.
B N $300,000
You two be interested in a piece of $300,000?
(Bot h c h u ck o) M A N N Y Yeah
How about it, Pop?
BALON: OK. Looks good to me.
We're all done.
BEN: Take it up.
Got it?
(Whinnies)
Good girl.
Good Sonya
Easy. Easy, girl. Easy, girl.
(Sonya whinnies)
One, two, three...
CHILD: Bye, Cale. - Bye.
One, two, three.
OK, that's good. That's good.
She's doing great
- She OK? - She's OK
(Whinnies)
- Whoa, whoa. You all right? - Fine.
- You OK? She kick you? BALON: Easy.
Come on. It's OK, honey.
- How is she? - She's OK.
What were you doing? She's... she's not a pet, Cale.
She's what I do for work now so you 'll have to leave her be all right?
Llm sorry
- You sure you're all right? - Fine.
(Slurps)
(Chomps)
(Sonya snorts)
- Here you go. - Thank you.
You make all that money and eat as much pie as you want?
(Chuckles) Yeah, I can 't find a better job.
Manny's gonna take me to watch him ride a racehorse.
And tonight I'm gonna muck out Sonya's stall.
- I'm thinking about painting it. - Nice to have a horse, huh?
Especially after Dad said,
"There will never be another horse in this farm as long as I live."
Did Pop tell you that?
Don 't you listen to everything Pop says. There's two sides to every story.
Pop said Dad's the best horseman. Says he has a gift.
Well, that's true.
We all know that's true.
- Hey. - Hello.
Whoa, Zephyr. Whoa, boy.
Thanks, Mike.
- What'd you think about that? - That was fast.
- Nice boots. - Ah, Thank you.
Oxo rc so a co u p o o f h o rsos fo r a fow ow h o rs
- Pretty cool, huh? - Yeah.
You ever ride in races?
Couple of times I did.
- But no more. - Why?
Er...
I have bad dreams.
Three years ago I got my first real race.
I ran fifth.
What was the name of the horse?
Downtown Swing.
- It was amazing. - Did you ever ride him again?
Yeah. In our second race, I was flying into that first turn.
And then I looked under my arm to see if I was clear on the rail.
When I looked back up, there was a horse swerving into me.
My left foot came out of the iron, I fell to the ground...
and I got run over by three horses.
Broke both shoulders, sternum...
four ribs
punctured a lung.
You never raced again.
(Sighs heavily)
You know, at night, when I fall asleep...
...I dream I'm in a big race on a very fast horse.
And I look to my left foot, it slips out of the iron and I begin to fall.
But... before I hit the ground, I wake up.
- But you still exercise racehorses. - Yeah.
Just...
It's just me and the horse alone on the track,
free.
No-one to bother us. It's much better that way.
- I'm sorry about your nightmares, Manny. - It 's OK
It's God's way of telling me no more racing.
(Slurping)
Good night.
From Mom.
I'm good, honey. Just put it down there.
Cale?
Will you grab that roll of wire underneath the fence?
Yeah.
You can just hang on to it there.
Pop said this farm used to be beautiful.
This farm was beautiful.
200 acres. One of the nicest in Versailles.
- See all that over there? - Yeah.
Well, that was ours.
Pop: S ow h od so m o roa y h co raco m a ros
Big, beautiful female horses.
Waveland, Blue Jezebel and Miss Moffett.
That's right.
Pop said he built those stalls and filled them with horses.
Yeah, he made a good living selling yearlings.
But you wanted to keep the yearlings and race 'em, right?
Well, it got kind of hard,
watching horses born on this farm go on to win big races for somebody else.
So you got Pop to keep some yearlings so you could train 'em, race 'em.
You don 't just keep 'em, Cale. They're not free.
I'm going to brush down Sonya.
Cale Crane.
Yes, ma'am?
- Working on your creative writing assignment? - Yes, ma'am.
What's your story about?
It's about a king...
...and his castle...
and a magic horse.
Bye.
She can stand on it. Not for long. But she can stand on it.
I'll run a couple more tests but I don 't see any reason she can 't breed. She looks good.
You helped her, Cale.
She's gonna have a baby. Yeah!
I'll see you Friday.
Well, I'm gonna call in a favour.
(Whispers) Go, Cale.
- Go. - Go.
So where are you going?
I'm gonna go see an old friend.
About a stud for Sonya?
Yeah.
About a stud.
You wanna come?
Yeah. I'll come.
Fusaichi Pegasus.
He won the Kentucky Derby.
Do you see him? That's Fusaichi.
Giant's Causeway.
Johannesburg.
He won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
You learn all that from Pop, too?
He's a beautiful horse.
Hey, Bill.
It's good to see you.
Good to see you.
- This is my daughter Cale. CALE: Hi
- Nice to meet you, Cale. - Nice to meet you, too.
So, you call two months ago telling me you got a race mare needs to be covered, then nothing.
Well, it's been a pretty long road with that filly, Bill, but she's ready to go now.
- So, you still going to be able to help me out? - Right over here.
All right, ladies and gentlemen, are you ready for the world's greatest stud?
Come on, Todd. Bring him on out.
That's not...
- What is that? BILL: This here is Thunder Pants
Honey, Thunder Pants is a teaser pony.
He's gonna help Sonya get ready to go into the breeding shed with a stallion.
- Thanks, Bill. - Hey, Cale,
want to meet the stallion I picked for you?
Cale, meet Grand Slam.
Grand Slam?
Unbelievable.
So, what do you think?
Well,
I think it's Grand Slam.
Everyone at Ashford has a lot of respect for your family.
I explained your situation and they want to do you the favour of a lifetime.
I just... I don 't know what to say.
- Say you'll have the filly here first week in May. - You got it.
That week's the only shot you get.
He's booked till next year.
And you got to send me half of the 15,000 by the end of the week.
That's er... 15,000?
Well, Grand Slam's normal stud fees are 200,000.
- We're waiving that. - Yeah, I know.
The 15 doesn 't even cover our costs in insurance.
No no Bill it 's an amazing offer I just didn 't
I'm wondering, though, if maybe I couldn 't give you a share in the foal,
maypo to covo r a t h o oxpo h sos,
whatever they are
BILL: We just don 't do that
Not in a case like this
Are you saying you want to call it off?
No, Bill, I just...
Bill, I don 't have the money.
I am sorry, Ben.
- I didn 't fully know your situation - That's OK Bill
Listen, I... I really appreciate the try.
I'm gonna call. All right? Thanks.
Let's go, honey.
POP: Llve never seen Grand Slam up close
CALE: He's got muscles everywhere
POP: What'd he say?
He's a horse.
I know. What'd he say?
"I am a great champion."
"When I ran, the ground shook.
The sky opened and mere mortals parted."
"The way to victory.
And I met my owner in the winner's circle."
"Where he put a blanket of flowers on my back."
You remembered that?
Sport of kings, you know that?
They call horse racing the sport of kings.
- So when you gonna take me to the races? - I don 't go any more.
Haven 't been in years.
So I can take the Racing Form and The Blood-Horse, right?
Your dad doesn 't want me teaching you about horses.
So I should leave 'em?
You should stuff 'em under your shirt.
OK.
Cale, in that cabinet above the sink...
Yeah.
Is there a coffee can?
Mm-hm.
- Bring it to your dad, would you? - Sure
- Good night. - Good night
- Pop wanted me to give this to you. - Thanks, hon.
- I'm gonna eat my dessert in the barn. - All righty.
- What the hell is this? - Coffee can
- You expect me to use it? - Only flavour I got.
You're unbelievable. There's almost $20,000 there.
You watched me sell this farm off bit by bit till there was nothing left.
Why are you doing this?
Damned if I know.
Breed the horse, Ben.
Picking up that filly was the gutsiest thing I've seen you do in years.
Guts? I took the biggest swing I could and I struck out.
- And you gave up. - I'm broke, Pop!
What do you expect me to do?
I expect you to take the money, trust your instincts and breed the horse.
- You told me to put her down - But you didn 't.
- Cos you're a horseman. - Oh, don 't blow smoke...
Are you gonna spend your life shovelling horse squat for sheiks
or are you gonna get back in the game?
Don 't think I don 't know what's going on here with you and Cale.
It's in her blood, Ben.
Cale's a beautiful kid.
Stop filling her head with horse stories.
Horse stories are all I got.
Keep 'em to yourself. I'll pay you back when the foal sells.
Any chance you'll keep the foal?
Race him or her?
No, we're going to sell the foal.
But we still have Sonador.
Sonador?
Yeah It 's her full name
Sonador.
(Whispers) Sonador.
I think it's Spanish.
Spanish for "Dreamer".
Good night, Dreamer.
- OK, I got it. - I'm going to Pop's.
Lil, how many days they give you down at the diner?
I got Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
But I could take more.
Palmer called around. Shut me out everywhere.
I can 't find any work
I'm gonna have to take down the sign.
The real estate sign?
It's all been sold.
The only land we got left to sell, we're sitting on.
Here's the first letter of foreclosure.
- Morning. - Hello Cale
- Hey Doc - Balon. Manny.
Sonya's gonna make us some money huh?
This horse, she gonna make a special baby, huh?
- Is Ben around? - Yeah. I'm right here.
All right. Just got off the phone with Bill.
We're back on.
Going to breed her to Grand Slam.
Ben, I've completed my tests and I've got some bad news for you.
What?
She's infertile.
She's not gonna have a baby now?
No, h o h oy, s h o: S h ovo r go h h a h avo pap os
I'm sorry, guys.
I'm sorry, Sonya.
T: S O K
It's almost dawn.
You 've been up all night
What was I thinking, Lil?
Trying to breed that horse?
Cale loves that horse.
That's good, cos that little filly just ruined us.
That little filly is the best thing that's ever happened around here.
Come on, Lil.
Since she's been in that barn, we have a family.
For the first time in years.
Look, I'll work seven days a week at the diner if it means you'll spend time with your daughter.
Can 't you see how much she wants to be with you?
And I know that your dad disappointed you,
but that does not mean that you have to disappoint her
This has nothing to do with my father.
- No, it has everything to do with him. - You're wrong.
The truth is, if Cale hadn 't been with me that night, I'd have left that horse on the track
and let 'em put the horse down - and I'd still have my job.
Cale...
Cale?
Come on. Cale?
Honey, can I come in?
Come on, let's just give her some time.
Cale?
Come on honey Open the door
Please?
She'll come downstairs when she's ready.
We're going to run away.
We're going to run far away.
There you go.
We're going for a walk.
Cale...
(Door bangs)
Stop, Sonya!
Sonya, stop!
Hang on, Cale.
Cale!
Dad she won 't stop!
I can 't make her stop!
Cale, hang on!
Please...
Cale...
Cale!
Jump.
Jump!
I got you. I got you.
I got you.
Are you all right? You OK?
I got you sweetie
I got you.
- Is she OK? - She's all right.
It's all right, baby.
T: S O K
- Are you OK, honey? - Yeah.
- Huh? - Yes, I'm OK.
Hey, Ben?
How's Cale doing?
- She's all right? - She OK?
Yeah. She's fine.
OK.
- Could we talk to you for a minute, boss? - All right. How's Sonya?
She was running back and forth along the fence and...
- We were following her... - Balon, did she break down?
How bad is she?
Well, in the truck it said that she's about, I don 't know, a quarter mile.
And, well, she...
She was getting faster and faster.
Yeah
She's looking pretty strong sir
What are you?
Well...
You saying she should race?
You can load her up, Joe.
M a r a h: S Sto r m p roko h o r og th o sa m o way as So h ya
Same fracture, same location.
Who's Mariah's Storm?
- She was a great racehorse. - She sure was.
- Made a big comeback, too. - Beat Serena's Song in the graded stakes.
When I saw Sonya's X-rays, I thought I ought to show 'em to you.
- That bone is healed. - Oh, yeah. That leg's good.
Now, getting her back into racing shape, that's up to you.
Good luck.
Thanks a lot, Doc.
- Bye. - Bye-bye.
Well, she's not favouring that leg.
Ow: S s h o ook?
She looks big.
- Big as in strong? - No, big as in fat.
That's mean. That's mean. You shouldn 't say that.
She's been eating too many Popsicles.
- What? - What?
You didn 't know I knew about that, did you? (Laughs)
- 3Tr and two. - 3Tr two.
36.
(Clicks stopwatch)
What do you think?
Well, in five weeks, best she's done is three furlongs in 3Tr seconds.
Not fast enough to win much, is it?
Maybe a cheap claimer at Bluegrass Downs.
She was a graded stakes horse.
Now she's a claimer.
It might be a good idea to run her in one.
See if she perks up in a real race.
Yeah, I've been thinking about that.
You don 't think anybody would claim her, do you?
Would you buy a horse that broke its leg?
You Know, she might win.
Could be easy money.
COMMENTATOR: And away they go. Away to a beautiful start.
And Super from the extreme outside.
Coming from behind is Sonador.
- Her leg looks pretty good. - Yeah.
COMMENTATOR: They make their way around the first turn and head onto the back stretch.
Come on, Sonador! Come on. Can you see her?
COMMENTATOR: Running in fourth is Sonador.
And Sonador's now on the move on the outside.
Then we have back in fifth. All For Nothing.
Come on, baby.
Come on, Mike, change your lead now.
COMMENTATOR: They make their way around the far turn.
- Go! - Come on, girl.
On the inside comes Obvious Favourite.
Come on, Sonya, only three furlongs to go now.
She's coming up!
Major Easy and Obvious Favourite...
Show her the stick.... now. Get her out of there.
Come on, girl!
(Neighing)
Third!
- Third. - Yeah.
That's great.
A minute 1 3 seconds. A little slow.
but it's the beginning.
You Know, if Mike wouldn't have been boxed in, I think.she would've won, sir.
Third place.
So, what'd she get?
$1,1 00.
Sonador.
- Ben Crane? - Yeah.
Claim.
What? You got to be kidding me.
Claimed?
Wait a second. Hang on a minute.
You said she wouldn't get claimed.
Cale, listen to me.
What was the tag?
How much did you get for her?
1 5,000.
You just sold Sonador.
I don't believe this.
Cale...
I wasn't trying to sell Sonya.
OOut of 1 00 horses that could have been claimed tonight, you Know how many got claimed?
Two.
Do you understand that you got to claim the horse before the race is even run?
I just figured there's no way anybody'd take a chance on a filly that'd already broken her leg.
I guess there was some chance.
She's gone.
She was a good horse, Cale.
- I'm going to miss her, too. - Please don't treat me like a little kid.
You were just trying to get some of your money back.
I get it. It's business.
That's right, it is.
- But I wasn't trying to sell Sonya, OOK? - You lied to me.
You said I'd always have Sonador. You stood there and said it.
You raced her and she got claimed.
Well, in horse racing, everything doesn't always end up how you want it to.
She wasn't for sale.
Every racehorse everywhere in the world, right now, is for sale.
Get that.
She wasn't just some racehorse.
She was our horse.
I told Pat that I was gonna work.the dinner shift tonight.
Remember. you said you could go to Cale's school. for Parents' Night.
- Eight o'clock... I got it. - All right.
Have a good time.
WOOMAN: "My shirt was wet and it smelled like French toast.
So even though I threw up, I was happy my dad took..me to the firehouse.
The end."
Thank..you, Miss Richardson.
Thank you.
- Ben Crane. - Y es, ma'am.
I'd love you to read Cale's story. It's very inventive. It's right there in the blue folder.
Come on up.
Er, "Once upon a time there was a noble king.
He lived in a beautiful castle overlooking green fields.
An evil storm cast darKness over his castle.
And before he Knew it, dark.knights had begun to take away his kingdom one piece at a time.
But our king was a warrior
and he Knew that if he could find his magic horse,
he could restore the kingdom to greatness.
He was not like most kings.
He was quiet and kind.
Everyone loved the king, which he may not have Known.
He searched and searched and finally rescued his horse from a raging river.
But by the time he'd freed his horse, his kingdom was gone and he had given up.
But the horse knew better than he.
The horse took..him over mountain ranges and across...raging rivers.
When it finally looked like they would die, the horse asked him to trust him.
The king didn't Know if the horse had really spoken to him
or he just hadn't had anything to eat in a few days.
(.(Audience chuckkles)
Not soon after, the horse attempted to climb a mountain
so steep the king was sure it would be their deaths.
But the horse reached the top.
And at the top, they found his kingdom restored.
All those who loved him greeted the king with pie and coffee.
By Cale Crane."
- Can we keep these? - Yes.
I read your story tonight in school.
The stupid one about the king?
Yeah, the stupid king.
I made mistakes, Cale.
I'm sorry.
So you like the stupid king?
Yeah, I like the stupid king.
I love the stupid king.
He loves you, too.
Ben, there's some guy here to see you.
- Cale. - Mm?
I got Pop a new goat. Want to pull him out of the trailer?
Thanks a lot.
Sonya!
You came home!
I'm so glad you're back.
How'd you get her back?
Well, it wasn't just me. Pops helped out, too.
I did?
We're both out of coffee for a while.
All right. I got all the paperwork..here.
Cale, we put 51 % of Sonador in your name.
So from here on out, you make all the decisions.
Don't worry, I got you in there at 39%.
Balon, you and Manny can split the other ten, huh?
What are you saying, Ben?
Well, I'm saying as soon as she signs this paper, the new owner of Sonador is Cale Crane.
Welcome to the race business.
Congratulations.
You work.for her now.
OOoh.
OK, boss...
Me?
- What's it gonna be? - Let's go, senorita.
Come on.
Want me to warm her up and then push her a little for three furlongs? OOr maybe four?
You want us to blow her out today, right?
And then we can start to build her up. Huh?
Um...yeah.
Let's just blow her out.
BEN: Appreciate it. Bob.
If anything comes up, let me Know. All right. Good night.
Hey... You're up kind of late.
I've been reading all of Sonya's records.
She won over ¡ê200,000 in graded company.
OOh, yeah, I Know.
OQualifies her for a lot of stakes races.
I was looking through the conditions book..
Well, I'm sure you'll figure something out.
I want you to help me.
I want you to help me train her.
I see.
Well, you'd be getting a trainer.
What is it I'd be getting?
1 0%.
- 20. - 1 5.
- Done. - Sign here.
Straight across. Not too tight.
That's it. There you go.
Come on, girl. Come on.
Get up. Let's go. (.Clickks tongue)
She look... good?
((Hubbub of conversation)
- All right, here we go. - Hello.
Hello.
I want to thank... everyone for coming.
And I've scouted all of Sonador's possible races and I've pickked one I Know she can win.
LlL: RReally?
- lsn't that good? - And when is this race?
Saturday, OOcctober 29th.
Gotten the best jockkey.
His name is Manolin Vallarta.
Wait, I'm Manolin Vallarta.
LlL: Great idea.
You told me you were the greatest jockkey in the world, and I believe you.
((Laughs)
Thank..you, Cale. Thank..you, but I can't. I'm not ready.
I'm...
"Fat and I got to slim down." Right, Manny?
The 29th of OOcctober is the same day as the Breeders' Cup Championship, isn't it?
Biggest day in racing.
The Breeders' Cup is, what, eight races worth $1 4 million?
I don't think..you want to run in any race on the same day as the Breeders' Cup.
You're right. We shouldn't run in any race the same day as the Breeders' Cup.
That's why we're gonna run in... the Breeders' Cup.
- Whoa-ho! - ((Lil laughs)
That's ambitious.
You can't just show up with your horse at the Breeders' Cup, honey, and say,
"l want to run in the Classic." It doesn't work.that way.
Be nice if it did.
Do you Know what the selecction process is?
Er, 1 4 horses.
First seven are graded stakes wins, points, I don't Know.
Last seven are...
No. No, I don't, really.
The last seven they base on performance during the year.
But they can make a judgment call.
I'm going to take a shot.
It's a long shot but... why not Sonador?
Why not us?
MANNY: Why not Sonador? That's right.
BALOON: Well. we're going to the Breeders' Cup.
LlL: Did you really not know how the last horses were chosen?
No, I didn't. Why would l?
I never been there.
But if Sonya does get in, I can tell you there's gonna be huge fees for a race like that.
So, you Know, this is a pipe dream.
RRemember dreams, Ben?
Well, this one's Cale's.
- Help her live it. - I want to. Lil.
I do.
I'm just saying that this isn't gonna happen, that's all, honey.
So what? So what?
Just let it take her as far as it can.
All right.
Five furlongs in 1 01 and change.
Well, that's better, but... She was breezing. Dad.
Don't worry.
CALE: They're good. They look... good.
- Mmm. - Hey, guys.
OOh, wow, you guys got my favourite.
Balon, where's mine?
Yummy.
Looking for agua?
- This is an orange? - Mm-hm.
It looks like a painted golf ball.
Manny, run her a little closer to the rail.
The doughnuts are not that good.
CALE AND BALOON: OOh, no! - Give me another jelly.
Here.
Backup.
OOh.
Are we luckky?
Good girl.
Yes. Come on.
Come on, Sonya.
Cale?
I'm up. I'm up.
But, sir, my horse Rapid Cat is the son of Storm Cat, the best sire in the world.
He deserves to run in the Breeders' Cup.
Mr Sadir Abal, Rapid Cat is 1 88th on the point list.
We've got 1 4 spots.
There's not much hope for RRapid Cat. Next.
(.Crowd chatters)
Is Mr Cale Crane here?
I'm Cale Crane.
- Why don't you stand up? - ((Laughter)
Miss Cale Crane.
Well, miss, your horse Sonador has 20 points and that puts her 1 6th on the list.
Though I see that last year she had 42 points.
Yes, sir. She'd have that many points this year, except she was injured.
She was injured?
Well, do you have a vet's report says she's sound?
Right here, sir.
Thank..you.
Now, you Know there are 1 4 horses that get to run.
And your horse got a shot.
But to enter this horse in this race. there's gonna be a fee of $40. 0000.
Did you bring a cheque?
I mailed it.
((Laughter)
- Today. - (More laughter)
Let's just say that the panel determines that Sonador belongs in this race.
Now, there's another $80,000 in fees that's gonna be due on OOcctober 26th.
You prepared for that?
PALMER:. She'll mail it to you.
Y es, sir, I am.
Final selection will be at 1 1 am tomorrow.
- We got a deal? - We got a deal.
Congratulations.
((Lil laughs)
My Knight in shining armour's come to rescue me?
Bye. I'm going to take off. I'll see you tomorrow.
See you later.
Is Cale with Pop?
Yeah, they're going over race strategies.
She going to get in?
Selecction's in the morning.
How did Cale do in front of the committee?
Truth? It was rough.
She got kickked around pretty good.
- Why are you smiling? - Because she kickked right back.
Yeah, she reminds me of somebody.
You were right, Lil.
It was great just letting her try.
So you're saying that I'm smart?
I'm saying you're smart and beautiful.
You think.she has a chance of getting in.
There's a chance.
And the entry fees are $1 20,000.
OOK?
Did you hear me?
- Why are you smiling? - I feel like I'm on a date.
Cale?
Time for bed, honey.
Well, that works a little better than a buckket now, doesn't it?
((Laughs) Yes.
How much will you bet on Sonador to win the Classic?
Don't you think.she can win?
- Well... - You gotta think.she can win.
What's the harm in thinking she can win?
Say "l think.she can win."
I think she can win.
Good.
She needs to hear you say that.
I would like to see you run against those boys.
CHAlRMAN: May I have your attention. please?
As chairman of the Breeders' Cup, I am proud to announce
the field for the 22nd running of the Breeders' Cup Classic.
We start in alphabetical order.
AP Flyer.
Argus.
Bicycleman.
Bijoco.
Chief Balaz.
Full Of Flight.
Goliath's Boy.
Grand Duke.
Icondoit.
In The Rooms.
Note's Weasel.
On The Hops.
And our last two runners are...
..Point Twice...
and...
Sonador.
- (.Screams) Y es! - (.(Applause)
BALON: NO.
No. I gave it away.
MANNY: You gave it away!
You don't even Know the joke.
I can't believe I just did that.
Well, I had to see it for myself.
It's amazing.
Well, it's good to see the...
..the Cranes all in one spot.
Pop Crane. The famous Pop Crane.
Evening, fellas.
How can we help You?
Well, you have to ask..yourselves...
..how much it's worth to you...
to have this broken filly
finish 1 4th in a field of 1 4.
How much you really want to embarrass yourselves.
Because we all Know that this horse has got no business in that race.
Ben, l...
I feel bad about what happened between us.
No, look..., honestly, I do.
And I'd like to make it right.
I'll give you...
..oh, 20,000 in cash for her.
20 grand?
Yeah.
Let's see, Manny, that's $1,000 for you.
- $1,000 for you, Balon. - Whoo!
MANNY: A whOle 1,000 fOr me?
I guess I could get me a couple of steak... dinners now, huh?
Maybe some wine, maybe some tube sockks.
BALON: $1,000 fOr me, tOO?
I could buy me a thousand pair of dollar underwears.
Wait, my share's about eight grand.
I've only got 20 invested. Where do I sign?
(Manny and Balon laugh)
$40,000.
All right?
I brought my guys and a trailer with me.
So your luck...is changing.
I Know what you paid for that horse.
Are we done here?
Not my horse, Everett.
Hm?
Well, what do you say, honey?
I'm not selling her.
OK, I found my other pockket. All right? And you listen to me.
This is your last chance.
I have a certified cheque for $1 00,000.
And if you take this offer. I'll give your dad his job back.
I can't believe it.
The Cranes have finally won one.
Dad?
If it was me...
..I'd tell him to take his money and his empty trailer and get the hell off our farm.
But...
that's just me.
You're running the big colt Goliath's Boy in the Classic?
That's right. Goliath's Boy is the favourite.
And when he wins the Cup, it'll be my fifth horse of the year.
Do you think..Goliath's Boy remembers what Sonya's butt looks like?
Why?
Because it's all he's gonna be seeing of her on race day.
((Laughs)
MANNY: That's a good one. kid.
PALMER:. Suit yourself.
Dad.
Any luck?
I can't find a sponsor for this race, Pop.
Nobody wants to take a chance on her.
Called everybody I can think... of.
BEN: You ever seen a kid so happy with a horse?
Y eah. I have.
CALE: Pick it up.
Come on.
Pick it up. Good girl.
There's other races, darling, that don't cost so much to enter.
Whoo!
I've lost 1 5 pounds in three weeks.
You should stop training.
We don't have the money to run.
Going down to the Breeders' Cup to tell them we're dropping out of the race.
OOh.
I had a dream last night, Cale.
I was on a...horse.
A fast horse.
That horse and me...
Ooh! We were flying like angels.
How'd it end?
I woke up and mY hunger was gone.
It was God telling me to race again.
Thank you. Cale.
May God bless you.
Nobody ever thought we'd get in.
No, they didn't. But you did it.
Cale. Pop. Come on.
Get in the truck.....
Come on, Iet's go.
Great idea, Dad.
Whoa, whoa, he said he'd talk to us.
- What are you going to say? - I'm not. You are.
I'm here to see Prince Sadir.
The prince is expecting You.
Please join him.
Prince Sadir, I'm Cale Crane.
I remember you.
This is my dad and my grandad.
- Morning. - Appreciate you taking my call.
1 20,000?
40,000 for the nomination fee and 80,000 for the entrance fee.
Prince Tariq is sure he's going to win.
Goliath's Boy is a big, big horse.
BEN: Goliath's Boy is a bully.
He's a bluffer and her horse knows it.
Cale, you look..me in the eye
and you tell me you think..your horse has a chance of beating my brother's horse.
My horse will beat every horse that shows up.
ALL THREE: Yeah, we're in!
We are in the Breeders' Cup! I can't believe it! Whoo!
CALE: "You are a great champion.
When you ran. the ground shook. the sky opened and mere mortals parted.
Parted the way to victory.
where you'll meet me in the winner's circle and I'll put a blanket of flowers on your back. "
Run hard tomorrow.
Run hard for my dad.
He deserves a good run.
(Knock.. at door)
Pop?
POP: Just a minute.
What?
In 21 Breeders' Cup Classiccs, you Know how many fillies have ever won it?
None.
OOnly four fillies ever ran.
She's not even ready.
Palmer's right. This is going to be an embarrassment.
What am I doing here, Pop?
You're taking your kid and your horse to the Breeders' Cup tomorrow.
Because that's the dream of every real horseman.
It's the dream of every father.
Dream damn few ever get to see.
Damn few. Trust me on that one.
Listen...
Lilly and Cale are driving down in the morning and Lilly doesn't really Know where to go, so...
I want you to come to the race.
Pop, as Your son, I'm asking You to come.
Be with me and Cale.
OK
OK....
Good.
Good job. Good job, sweetie.
Good job.
- You got her? - Y eah, I got her.
You look..muy bella.
Well...thank..you, Balon.
I was talking to her.
Here you go, Manny.
Here's the original silks of the Crane Race Farm.
- Buena suerte. MANNY: Muchas gracias.
I'm gonna take this good-looking thing up to the owners' box.. and show off that hat.
Have a great race, Manny.
Thank..you, Mrs Crane.
Sure wish we had another couple of weeks.
She's ready to run.
You saved her life.
She's just returning the favour.
She's here to run for you.
Mr Palmer.
What do you expecct from Goliath's Boy today?
What do I ex.pect from Goliath's Boy?
You know what. I ex.pect that Goliath's Boy is gonna have some fun today.
OOh, there's Ben Crane and Sonador. 80-1 shot.
Hey, Ben. How about we get a piccture here with Sonador and Goliath's Boy?
Just a little photo opportunity.
(Whispers) No.
(Neighs)
Get him away!
Sonya!
- No! - Get him away!
MAN: Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Easy, easy, easy!
- It's all right. I got him. - Control your horse.
I got him.
Easy. Sonya.
Bring him in.
WOOMAN: Easy. boy.
BALOON: Sonya.
- Grab a hold of her. - Easy.
Gonna be OK
I don't believe it. I'm feeling heat in that leg. Now, I...
I don't know if it's me or...
What do you want to do?
What do you want to do, boss? Huh?
- (.Shouts) What do you want to do? - Bring her in here.
Dad...
What are the chances she's cut on the same leg we've been healing for the past six.months?
This is... This is beyond bad luck.
Are you afraid?
Are you afraid that we're gonna come in dead last?
I'm sorry, sir.
Where is she? Bring her in here.
Sir. it's Sonya.
- Balon, just bring her in here. - She won't come in!
(Neighing)
Manny. Manny.
- I don't Know, boss. She doesn't want to move. - Hold on.
Come here.
She tried to kick.me when I tried to bring her in.
Come here. Come on.
Hold on.
Easy now.
What do you want?
Easy.
What's she telling you?
I don't know.
Something about...
..the ground shaking.
The sky parting.
She wants to run.
Let's go.
Balon...take Cale to our seats.
- (Both men chuckkle) - Good luck.......
Come on, girl.
I got a special package here.
- I'm very excited, ain't you? - Hello.
No, no. Just for owners.
I know.
That'd be us.
That would be us. Yeah.
- Thank..you very much. - Good luck.......
- OK. - Here we go.
- Where are we? Are we down this way? - This way, yeah. That's it.
(Fanfare)
Do you Know any of these people?
- No, I don't. - OK.
(Fanfare)
COMMENTATOR: Horses coming out onto the track now
for the Breeders' Cup Classic.
The biggest race in North America.
- Good luck...... - Thank..you.
Eighth race.
20 to win on the seven.
MAN: Seven? That's SOnadOr.
That horse is 80-1.
You Know what?
You're right.
$257...Sonador to win.
You like that?
- ((Laughs) WOOMAN: Good luck.
- Well...you ready? - Y eah.
Pop.
257 to win?
You're craZy.
That's for you.
(Both laugh)
COMMENTATOR: Here's the moment we've all been waiting for.
They're ready to load into the gate for the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Goliath's Boy is full of himself this afternoon.
Goliath's Boy is good and he knows he's good.
Goliath's Boy looks like he's going to run a huge race.
He's loaded in the gate now. joined by Bijoco and Note's Weasel.
Icondoit and Point Twice coming up. Now. here's the filly. Sonador.
Only the fifth filly in history to even run in this race.
Sonadorjoined now by Bicycleman.
And here's young Manny Vallarta. the rider of Sonador.
Certainly never been in a race this big in his entire career.
Grand Duke and Full Of Flight are going in.
Almost all set now.
Chief Balaz to come to the outside gate and they'll all be set for a start.
They're all set.
(Race bell rings)
And away they go.
Broke in a perfect line.
In The Rooms on the inside.
The favourite. Goliath's Boy. comes away beautifully and joins the leaders.
Note's Weasel is right there.
Bijoco in the middle of the pack.
Icondoit towards the outside.
Then it's Point Twice and Bicycleman. setting a very fast pace early on.
AP Flyer behind that.
On The Hops as they go wide.
Hold on, Manny!
The rider's foot has come out of the irons on Sonador.
Get back.up.
Make her settle.
CALE: She's last.
There's a lot of race left.
First quarter, 22 and one.
- Go, Sonya! - Go, Sonya!
COMMENTATOR: Sonador moving into the picture.
Come on, Sonya.
Come on, Sonya. Take him out.
Hold on. Hold on. Hold on!
((Laughs)
That's it, baby!
(.Cheering)
- Come on, Sonador! - Sonador! Come on, baby!
(Excited cheering)
Go!
COMMENTATOR: Sonador!
(Wild cheering)
(Whoops)
- (Eccstatic cheering) - Y es!
OOh, man, I had a dream.
It was a dream and I didn't Know the end of it till today!
Whoo-hoo-hoo!
Yeah!
(.Cheering)
Ha!
Thanks, Pop. Thanks for everything.
Thank..you.
257 at 80-1?
That's $20,000.
I'm back.
CALE: "You are a great champion.
When you ran. the ground shook.
the sky opened and mere mortals parted.
Parted the way to victory.
where you'll meet me in the winner's circle. where I'll put a blanket of flowers on your back. "
~ BETHANY DlLLOON: Dreamer
~ Love woke me up this morning
~ With a memory
~ Love came and whispered a story
~ That awakened a dream
~ Hey-hey-heeeey
~ lmagine a beautiful castle
~ And a beautiful king
~ He left the comfort of his throne
~ To fight for vicctory
~ Hey-hey-heeeey
~ Ah-ah-hey-heeeey
~ I am a dreamer
~ Take me higher
~ OOpen the sky up
~ Start a fire
~ I believe
~ Even if it's just a dream
~ Love woke me up this morning
~ And I ran to see
~ The king in the winner's circle
~ OOn a horse he won for me
~ Hey-hey-heeeey
~ Ah-ah-hey-heeeey
~ I am a dreamer
~ Take me higher
~ OOpen the sky up
~ Start a fire
~ I believe
~ Even if it's just a dream
~ OOnly a king would do anything
~ To protecct the kingdom
~ And only a king would do anything
~ To protecct the kingdom
~ OOnly a king would do anything
~ To protecct the kingdom
~ I am a dreamer
~ Take me higher
~ OOpen the sky up
~ Start a fire
~ I believe
~ Even if it's just...
~ I am a dreamer
~ Take me higher
~ OOpen the sky up
~ Start a fire
~ I believe
~ Even if it's just a dream
~ Yeah-yeah-yeah
~ OOh, yeah-yeah-yeah