KC Racing had installed a cut-off date for any new additions to its racing string. The cut-off date would be around the end of July, preferably Week 3 or 4. They implemented this cut-off date because trainer John Murchison honestly felt like there wouldn't ample time to get a feel for a horse right at the end of the season. If KCRS acquired a horse in say August, they'd strongly consider just benching the horse until January of the next year. That would not be the case with the final addition to the racing string.

A stable hand had already tacked up Roussong and was getting him ready to be ridden by his jockey for his daily routine. Another hand came out with a fully tacked Muggathugga who yawned and rested his hoof as he waited for his jockey to get a leg up. Muggathugga's usual jockey, Justin McKinney was swinging up into the saddle of a small, dark bay colt with a faded white star on his forehead. "Rough Boy, eh?" commented John as he took the reins from the hand as Justin climbed up into the saddle. "Recognize him, boss?" Justin held the reins of the colt just as he tossed his head and let out an ear-splitting nicker as Enrapture was walked by - probably to her paddock. The older mare merely flattened her ears and bit in the direction of the colt, switching her tail across her flanks in annoyance. "Yeah.." John murmured thoughtfully, shaking his head at Enrapture's antics.

"We'll pair him with Muggathugga. He's been running at all kinds of distances lately and he's been cast into his twin brother's shadow." John said as he mounted up on Wes, his personal buckskin AQH gelding and trotted off towards the dirt track. "You said twin brother? Isn't that kinda rare?" Samson inquired as he kept Mugs at a walk alongside the horses. "Yeah, it is. I assume Rough Boy here was the weaker one, he's much much smaller than his brother. His brother is Tuff E'Nuff, won the Provincia Derby this year and the Unicorn Horn Juvenile Dirt last year."  The colts didn't seem to mind each others company and seemed to get along quite well.

John continued to spout his ideas. "I'm not afraid to run him against his brother out there on the track. As of late, Rough Boy has had a piss-poor record and he's got the bloodlines to do much better. Since Roussong will now be focused on the miler distances, I will have Rough Boy go the longer distances, I know he can handle it. He needs motivation. Seeing Muggathugga maintaining a strong lead over him will definitely get his attention." He signaled for the colt and stallion to be loaded up into the gates.

As soon as the gates opened, Muggathugga maintained a strong, lengthy fluid stride over the dirt. Rough Boy flared his nostrils and seemed to be bothered by the fact as Muggathugga maintained a slight lead over the colt, taunting him to go faster. Just as John had said, the colt seemed to be bothered by this and his ears swiveled forward. Life seemed to come back to the colt - he was known to have a lot of energy and now was the perfect time to show it. 

The colt's ears swiveled forward and his jockey asked a bit more from him, showing him the whip but not physically using it on the colt. Rough Boy responded and kept pace with Muggathugga, stride for stride. The older stallion increased his speed, slowly, but surely and the colt matched his pace as they rounded the bend and stretched out at the same time.

John stopped his watch as soon as the horses crossed the marker and their riders slowed them down to a jog around the track. "He just needs a little push." John commented to himself as he wrote down the horse's times in his journal.