Original subtitles

Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.

- What did you get? - 138 and two.

He's ready to fire.

You entered Swift Prince behind my back.

But if he wins Saturday, we're looking at 30 million.

What do you think? Is this going to kill them?

If Swift Prince doesn't win this race, I'm going to lose everything.

Easy!

Who the hell gave you permission to work him?

Freeze!

My God! They've injected Swift Prince.

I'd appreciate it if you could keep this quiet.

I can do this. Nobody understands that horse like I do.

Come on, boys, come on over here.

Attaway, Jill!

You know, I remember hearing about Swift Prince

as a two-year-old when I was writing The Triple Crown Murders.

Wasn't he burning the tracks up on the West Coast?

You got a hell of a memory,

Jessica, he was running for Mentone Farms near Del Mar then.

And being mentioned as a contender

in the following year's Kentucky Derby, wasn't he?

Right.

But then he just seemed to vanish.

Well, he had a training accident.

His fetlock, he injured it.

Never ran as a three-year-old.

You know, this may be an amateur's observation,

but from the way he's looking,

I would say that Swift Prince could hold his own again on the track.

Yeah. That's what the new owners, Wally and Catherine, said to me.

They wanted me to enter him in the Raleigh this Saturday.

He works real good now, and he'll be running Saturday.

With Jill aboard?

Maybe that was the surprise that you were so close-mouthed about?

Well, call it fatherly pride,

but, Jessica, she knows how to sit a horse as fine as anybody else that ever rode.

Well, at the risk of a little godmotherly pride, I have to agree.

What've you got?

Oh, three quarters, 12 and two.

He's moving real good, but he's going wide.

Don't go wide with him!

Keep him on the rail, Jill! Don't let him bear out on you like that

in the middle of the track! Honey, go with him!

What did you get?

138 and two.

Matt, that's terrific.

Terrific?

He's ready to fire.

Excuse me, will you?

Hello?

Matt, hold on a second. I want to put you on the speaker.

Catherine dropped by for a drink. I want her to hear this, too.

Now, what was his time?

Thirty-eight and two.

It's a go, then!

And we're going to win it, too!

Oh, Matt, you're magic!

What about Lloyd? Is he going to give us any trouble?

Oh, he's coming in from the coast this afternoon.

Don't worry. At worst, it'll be two against one.

Good ride, Jill. Thanks.

Dad, how'd he go?

138 and two, honey.

So, are we racing Saturday, or what?

You bet we are, honey. We're racing Saturday.

Oh, Jill.

Okay, Jess, here's the deal.

Now you tell me everything you know about writing,

and I'll tell you everything I know about racing.

Hey, and, Jess, to top it off, I'll bet you a lobster dinner

you can't outdo The Triple Crown Murders.

You're on, Matt.

So what's this one gonna be about, aside from murder?

Oh, this wonderful Blue Ridge country, breeding champions.

Those dreams you all chase after.

Jess, the bet's off.

If I can help you with your research...

Oh, you will, I'll guarantee it. You both will.

And if I'm not here pounding this keyboard,

I will be up at the house.

Wally has given to me the most beautiful room,

with a great view of the mountains.

Say, when am I going to see Catherine and Tracey?

Tracey, are you around?

Over here, Mom.

Swift Prince is going to run in the Raleigh Stakes on Saturday.

That's great! His time must have gone...

Better than we hoped.

And that means that if he wins,

his stud fees go up, right?

Exactly. To the moon, if we're lucky.

We'll have to wait till the race on Saturday, though, for that.

So, does this mean I get to invite another hundred guests to the wedding?

Oh, I'm afraid not, my darling.

We're talking futures, you know.

But your share of the Raleigh Handicap purse...

Oh, that won't even come close to getting us even.

And that's if he wins.

Oh, it's just the bridesmaids' dresses, and now...

I don't like this any better than you do.

God knows, I don't want to disappoint you.

Look, things will loosen up.

If Paul can push the loan through...

Well, maybe we should just

postpone the damn wedding until we can afford to do it right.

I'm sorry, Mom. I didn't mean to snap at you.

All you've got to worry about...

Paul told me a lot.

You don't know the half of it, my darling.

The truth is, Tracey, we're about this far from losing all of it.

The farm, the horses, the entire estate.

Oh, my God.

I've been hanging on by my fingernails for months. I...

That's why you needed Wally to come in on Swift Prince, wasn't it?

Well, and you're marrying a Hampton.

I thought it would be in our best interest.

Well, it's going to be a beautiful wedding.

Now, you're not just doing this for me?

No.

I'm definitely doing it for me.

Thanks. You're welcome.

You're okay?

I like your champagne, Wally, but not your surprises.

You entered Swift Prince behind my back.

There was a deadline for entries, Lloyd.

And he's sound. Just ask the Doc.

Our deal was the horse goes straight to stud. No racing.

Catherine, Wally,

I've known Swift Prince since he was a yearling.

I nursed him through his injury.

And when I checked his leg before I left for the coast,

it was badly swollen.

You'll find horses have swollen legs when they've been

laid up for a long time.

I took x-rays yesterday.

There's no indication of residual damage.

He never gives me any sign whatsoever that he's in any kind of pain.

He loves to run.

Man, I don't understand you people.

What in the hell is the matter with a sure five, six million in stud fees?

Uh, this may sound like a foolish question, Mr. Mentone,

but wouldn't it be better

to have Swift Prince compete in some of these big handicap races,

and perhaps increase his value by winning,

rather than not racing at all?

Bravo, Jessica!

And if he re-injures that leg, and we have to destroy him, we'll have nothing.

Dad, Lloyd's got a point.

I'm sorry you're not with us on this, Lloyd, but it's a done deal.

Catherine and I have you outvoted.

To Matt and Jill.

Who're going to put Swift Prince in the winner's circle

at the Raleigh Handicap.

To Jill, then.

Catherine, I haven't seen Tracey yet.

Oh, Jessica, she's in town.

She's shopping for wedding decorations.

Oh.

Forgive me if I touched a raw spot.

It's not so raw anymore, Jessica.

Paul and I just developed different values over time.

What she's trying to say is that, uh,

he was trying to buy into Catherine and Wally's plan.

You know, bloodlines and stables.

Daddy, let go of it, please. It's over.

Oh, yeah, sure, it's over.

Yes. It's over.

Uh-huh.

Have a drink with your old man.

Look, I got to get back to the bank.

Are things okay with you and Tracey?

Yeah, okay.

Wonderful.

The wedding should be a lot of laughs.

Dad, what do you want from me?

For you to get out of that three-piece suit,

come back here, help me run the farm.

But I'll settle for that year-end audit you promised.

The tax deposits are due in a couple of days.

Okay, I'll take care of it tomorrow.

Thank you very much.

Come in.

Mrs. Fletcher. Pardon me.

Oh, no, please, please, come in.

You don't really give yourself much time to relax, do you?

Well, I try. But life and deadlines, they seem to interfere.

And now me. May I?

Oh, please.

I'm afraid all I can offer you is some lukewarm coffee.

My favorite kind. Black.

Matt tells me that you've spent most of your life in horse racing?

Yes. I grew up watching races from the tower at Saratoga.

I'm kind of concerned about Swift Prince.

Yes, so I gathered.

If there's one thing I've learned,

and I'm sure your research has done the same for you,

it's that racehorses are never quite the same once they've been injured.

It depends on the injury, doesn't it?

Yes. And the horse.

Mmm-hmm.

The Raleigh Handicap is big time.

The top four-year-olds, ambitious trainers, hungry jocks.

They play for keeps, and dangerous.

A shove by another horse, a stumble...

That leg could collapse.

And there's Jill's safety to be considered, too.

I suspect that Matt and Jill are aware of the risks.

Forgive me, but I think that your memory is playing tricks on you, Mr. Mentone.

The tower at Saratoga wasn't built when you were growing up.

If you'll excuse me, I think I better get back to work.

What do you say, Gus?

I hear you haven't been around the stable in about a week.

That's about right.

The money I've been slipping you,

I need you to be there, keep me posted.

I've been under the weather.

Assistant trainer...

I'd been on that job ten years before Hampton brought Matt in there.

I got it, Gus. One of the saddest stories I ever heard.

I want you back at work.

Now.

And sober.

Jessie, say hello to Bulwark here.

He's a yearling, broken about two months ago.

Still gets a little skittish, though, when you put a saddle on him.

Oh, he's lovely.

Yeah.

All right, Shari, up on top.

And let me tell you...

He'll be a little green with you.

And go easy with him, now.

Easy! Take it easy!

Steady!

Who the hell gave you permission to work him?

I did.

Seeing as how you were not tending to your job.

You can't do this to me.

I can't? I just did.

Why don't you gather up your gear and get out of here?

We're not through, Matt.

You were through the day you were hired.

Hey, we're not talking about the national debt here.

We're just looking at a $600,000 line of credit, fully secured.

And Mrs. Noble's assets are as sound as...

Yeah, I'll have the appraisal for you tomorrow, at the latest. Thanks.

Oh, uh, by the way, I want to get this through before the weekend,

because if, God forbid, something should happen to Swift Prince

at the Raleigh Handicap, the lady's balance sheet

is going to take a major nose dive. Thanks.

Very impressive.

Hi, my darling.

Hi, Tracey.

I've been trying to call you all morning.

Well, I had to go to Philipsburg for a meeting.

So, what do you think?

Is this going to kill them at my top secret surprise bridal shower?

You look very beautiful.

Oh, Paul, it's going to be so spectacular.

We are going to have the finest stable in Virginia.

Then you won't have to work in this silly bank anymore.

Tracey, I happen to like banking, okay?

Come on. You said you want to be your own person.

Face it, Paul, the only reason you like it is because your father doesn't.

Hey, what are you doing? Hey!

Matt!

Someone... Someone clobbered me.

Well, don't try to talk.

Dad, what happened?

He's hurt. I saw someone running.

I'm... I'm all right.

Hold him steady for me.

What is it?

The proverbial needle in a haystack.

They've injected Swift Prince.

You mean, this is merely butylmethate?

Well, that's what it smells and tastes like.

I won't know for sure till morning if that's what this is,

or if it got into his bloodstream.

You should be thankful they weren't trying to kill him.

Kill him? It would only make him run faster.

So who'd want to do a thing like that?

And why? I mean, don't the stewards

always run blood tests on the winning horses?

And whoever it was must have known that he'd be disqualified.

Not necessarily. The race isn't for three days.

Bute can be hard to detect after the first 24 hours.

They had it planned, all right.

Sure, he wins the race, then he takes the test, he tests clean.

Anyway, I'll call you as soon as I know something.

Dad, are you okay?

Huh? I'm fine. I'm fine, sweetheart, yes.

What are you looking at me so strangely for, honey?

Well, what if the test comes back positive?

If the tests come out positive, the stewards will have to report it.

We'll have no choice, we'll have to scratch the horse from the Raleigh.

Listen, can we talk about the assailant?

Do you remember anything about him?

Well, 6-to-5, it was Gus.

You mean, he tries to drug Swift Prince to make him run faster,

hopefully to win the Raleigh Cup, and then possibly be disqualified?

And if he doesn't win, there's no blood test.

Exactly.

But if there's no guarantee that you, or Matt,

or Hampton Farms would be harmed,

I mean, what would he hope to gain from it?

Jessica's right.

The whole thing just doesn't make any sense.

With Gus's boozed-up brain, what is sense?

Well, unless I'm missing something here,

any one of you, including Mr. Mentone and Mrs. Noble,

would have more reason than Gus

for wanting Swift Prince to run faster.

I'll slide by Gus's place and question him.

Ah.

Plus, maybe his fingerprints will show up on the syringe.

Or not.

Look, just one moment. One more thing.

I'd appreciate it if you could keep this quiet

until after we got the blood test results.

There's no point in unnecessarily alerting the track officials.

Of course not, Mr. Hampton.

Always delighted to do you and your, uh, friends here a favor.

As long as it's within the law.

Mother, the bridal shop is insisting on getting a certified check

before they even... Jessica!

Tracey! You look lovely!

Hello. Oh, Wally, yes. Oh, thank God!

The blood test is negative. Swift Prince is clean.

Yes, go on.

Oh, that's fantastic. Oh, thanks. Thanks for calling. Bye-bye.

Now I'll be able to sleep again.

Oh, Mother, that's such great news.

I'm so pleased for you.

Yeah, yeah, the committee will take care of it tomorrow.

Okay, I'll call you. Bye.

What can I do for you, Lloyd?

My friends tell me that your head office in Chicago

is very sensitive to the federal bank examiners.

Your friends are, uh, are right. It's a common concern these days.

Specifically, I hear they're worried about the supporting documentation

on the loan application submitted by Catherine Noble,

and approved on behalf of this branch,

by you.

I see.

Now, if she lied on those applications, she's committed fraud.

And I'm sure a case could be made that you are a party to it.

Well, all I can say is, I'm glad you're not my partner.

And I can avoid all this unpleasantness by

talking her into voting with you

to scratch Swift Prince from the Raleigh Handicap?

In that case,

well, I believe I can guarantee that everyone will live happily ever after.

Get out.

Think about it, Paulie.

All right, Sammy, take him back. Go on, son.

Well, hi. How are you, Cathy?

Oh, good, mostly. That's good.

I miss working with you, Matt.

Well, I miss you working with me, too.

It wasn't my idea to go to work for Wally.

Yeah. You know, Wally wouldn't have bought into Swift Prince unless

I allowed you to become the trainer.

Really? Well, that's a very nice compliment.

Matt,

I really need to win this one.

If Swift Prince doesn't win this race,

I'm going to lose everything.

Noble Farms is mortgaged way beyond the hilt.

Cathy, I knew things were... Were kind of tight,

but I didn't realize they were that tight.

Tony Maldonado doesn't have a mount.

And as you know, he's a top rider.

That's out.

Matt, Jill is like a daughter to me, too,

and I know how much you want her to ride,

but I think Swift Prince is too much horse for her to handle.

Oh, too much horse. Cathy, she can sit any horse.

Okay, Matt, friendship aside,

I need to reach out for the best I can get.

All right, friendship aside. I...

I'm the trainer, and I'm the one that decides

who's going to be on top of that horse the day he runs.

Just read my contract!

I have the right to chose the rider!

Oh, I... I'm sorry, Cathy, but you had faith in me once.

I'm asking you to have faith in me again.

All right, thanks anyway. Yes, I'll tell her. Thank you.

Excuse me, Matt, uh, this just came for you.

Thank you, Jess. Just talking to Sheriff Benson there.

He talked to Gus, who said he didn't know anything about butylmethate,

and there were no fingerprints on the syringe.

Oh, that's too bad.

Yeah, but don't worry. I think everything's going to be okay,

because I have a hunch

that the key to taking three seconds off of Swift Prince's race

is right in here.

Oh?

I'll let you know.

Matt. Yeah?

That business with Catherine wanting to use another jockey,

that's going to be all right?

Not to worry.

Nothing that a big win on Saturday won't cure.

Right.

Jill... Hi. Hi.

Got your bean-counting hat on?

Oh, uh, yeah. Dad's audit.

Listen, uh, you feel like maybe grabbing a bite to eat?

Yes. Okay.

Yeah.

Now, listen, don't move. I'll be right over, okay?

Problems?

I'll talk to you about it later, Jess. I got to run.

Oh, hi, Jessica.

Have you seen Paul anywhere? He said he was going to be down here doing an audit.

Well, he was, but he left about an hour ago.

Oh. We were going to talk about bridesmaids' gifts.

Well, I guess it will wait. Do you have any dinner plans?

I do now.

Great.

So, there's this new French restaurant in the village.

It's a little trendy, but the food's good. What there is of it.

Sounds like half the French restaurants in Manhattan.

Isn't that Matt's truck up ahead?

Yeah, it looks like it.

Wonder what it's doing out here?

Your statements are almost ready for signature.

Nothing much to it, Mrs. Fletcher,

your basic robbery-assault that went too far.

And that video cassette, you never found that?

Nothing on his person or in the truck.

The state police say witnesses saw an itinerant in the area.

They're looking for him now.

Matt stops to fix his flat, a guy walking along offers to help.

A drifter?

Who just happens to be in the same spot on a lonely, two-lane road?

Sure.

The perpetrator bludgeons him with the flashlight.

Three good blows here, according to the coroner's preliminary.

Then he grabs Matt's wallet and wristwatch,

and apparently that video cassette you said he was carrying,

and he takes off.

But there are no tools on any of these photographs here.

I mean, no jack, no tire iron, no lug wrench, nothing.

He hadn't gotten that far. He was still checking the tire.

Ah. Sheriff, excuse me.

Have you discovered what caused the flat?

Well, I can answer that, ma'am. It was a faulty valve.

Faulty? How?

A speck of sand must've caused a slow leak.

I couldn't find anything, but there were no holes in the tire.

Look, if you and Miss Noble could just please sign these.

It's getting kind of late, and Vern and I

have a whole bunch of paperwork to finish up.

Just one other thing, Sheriff.

One.

Sheriff, if I've said anything, I...

I'm sorry.

I guess because you're their friend, I just figured...

Catherine and Wally?

Yeah.

Which side of the racetrack you happen to come from around here

counts for a lot, Mrs. Fletcher.

Truth is, if it wasn't for this badge I was wearing,

those folks you're rubbing elbows with wouldn't give me the time of day.

You know, you might like to take a second look at that.

Now, there's a school of thought that says that

people get what they think they deserve.

You had a question?

Have you been able to locate Jill?

We tracked her down over at Arlo's Restaurant with Paul Hampton.

They're on their way here now.

And have you had any response from the

messages that you left for Catherine and Wally?

That's two questions, Mrs. Fletcher.

But the answer's no. I guess they're still out.

Same with, uh, Gus Tardio and Mr. Mentone.

Had you seen Matt this evening?

No.

He called a little after 7:00. He was upset.

Wally was here. We were going out for dinner.

Matt asked if we'd wait, he'd be right over.

He wanted to talk to us.

And he never turned up?

Around 8:30, I called his office. No answer,

so Wally and I left.

Oh, Jessica, this is so horrible.

Yes, uh, Louisville, please.

The number for Sportrack. That's on Highland Avenue.

Victor, Wyoming.

Right.

555-4475. Thank you very much.

You going to be okay?

Yeah. Thanks.

See you later.

Bye.

Jill, I'm so sorry.

I loved him so much, Jessica.

I did, too.

I couldn't go home, you know?

I had to come here.

I'm going to win this race for him, Jessica. I swear.

And I believe that you will.

And you're quite certain that there were no calls

to or from Matt Cleveland to Victor, Wyoming? I see.

And that note pad sheet that I mentioned,

and the video cassette, you haven't found either one of them?

All right.

Well, thank you, Sheriff. Hmm?

Right this way, sir.

No, I haven't seen Mr. Tardio. Bye.

She's in the study.

Oh, now that is quick service.

That's why I get the big bucks, ma'am.

If you'd, uh, sign right here, please.

Sure.

Thank you.

Have a nice day.

The price of fame, no doubt.

Here you are, hiding in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia,

and delivery people still manage to catch up with you.

Oh, yes, they can be relentless. Thank you so much, Wally,

for letting me use your phone. And thanks also to your cook.

I'm going to try to get Jill to eat some of this.

ANNOUNCER ON TV: Out of the far turn

Swift Prince saves ground down on the rail,

with Dancing Tommy alongside. Jockey Rene Gusto goes to the right-hand whip

and Dancing Tommy lugs in, breaking Swift Prince's stride. He takes the lead.

On the outside, Arnie's Boy is making a bid,

but here comes Swift Prince down on the rail.

He passes Dancing Tommy with a burst of speed.

Swift Prince holds on to win! A magnificent show of heart,

capping a truly outstanding campaign as a two-year-old...

I don't get it.

He used to always run the rail, and now I can't get him near it.

Your father apparently saw something that we're missing.

Do you think that's why he was...

Hello. Oh, yes, Catherine.

Well, she's right here. I'll tell her.

Catherine and Wally are on their way over here. They'd like to talk to you.

Oh, Jill, you know how we felt about your dad,

and how you must be feeling right now.

We wouldn't even be discussing this if the race weren't coming off tomorrow.

Okay. Go ahead.

What Catherine's trying to say...

Look, I know, I understand.

You don't think I'm in emotional condition to ride.

And he's going to know that.

And we know how badly you want this,

how much you want to see him win.

Anyway, Tony Maldonado has become available.

I can do this! I'm telling you, I can do this.

And we've decided to let him ride.

Look, nobody understands that horse like I do,

you know, nobody does. Except maybe my dad.

Tony's been up on the best, Jill.

I know. I know.

For some pretty big purses, and he's won more than his share.

Now, we're certain that Matt would have understood, and we hope you will.

Well, it's your horse, isn't it?

It's your decision.

You surprise me, kid.

What made you change your mind?

You did, Lloyd.

And Matt Cleveland's death.

A bum robs him and kills him, that made you see the light, huh?

I don't believe that's the way it happened, Lloyd. I think you killed him.

I never said I was brilliant, but that dumb I'm not.

Okay, so you changed your mind.

Whatever works. Did you speak with Catherine?

No. And I don't intend to.

Not about scratching Swift Prince.

Are you crazy?

She is going to lose the farm,

and you are going to lose your job.

Her, maybe. Me?

That'll be fine.

Oh, you see this? It's Catherine's loan application.

And whichever way the race turns out, Lloyd,

she and my dad are going to find out what kind of a partner they've got.

I just wanted you to know.

And thank you for helping me get my head straight.

See you around, Lloyd.

If you talk to her, just tell her I've got to see her.

Tell her it's about her business at the bank.

What's the hurry, Paul?

No time for your fiancee?

I've got to get over to the stable.

Got some hot audits you need to do? Like last night?

Tracey, it was getting late. I thought you weren't coming.

Like hell.

We had a hamburger, okay? Big deal.

Then I brought her home, after they found Matt.

Look, Paul, I'm talking about us.

For God's sake, we're getting married in a month.

Are we?

You know, Tracey,

I was going to do this later, but "us" is what's wrong with this whole arrangement.

None of it's about us. Not the wedding, not you and me.

What are you talking about?

It's about our parents.

You know, this royal match that they've put together.

Look, Tracey, I'm trying to say this as nicely as I can.

But this whole show, two historic stables joined in holy matrimony,

I mean, come on, they're breeding us, just like they're going to breed Swift Prince.

Honey, I mean, that's a part of it.

But we care about each other.

No. You're in love with the fantasy.

You're in love with the best gowns, the showiest fabrics,

some kind of gigantic racing enterprise.

Well, that's not me, and I'm not going to play other people's games anymore.

Our folks' or anyone else's.

You're serious. Totally.

Call off the wedding.

You can make me the heavy, you can do it any way you want, but it's over.

I'm sorry, Tracey.

Paul, if you want to have a fling with Jill...

He likes the center of the track.

You're going to have to hold him to the rail.

Yes, sir.

Catherine...

What did you do to my daughter?

I did her a favor.

Listen, I just wanted to wish you well...

Well, would you do me a favor? Go to hell.

I just wanted to wish you well tomorrow.

Jill, hi. I need to talk to you. Uh...

Whoa!

It's all right. Settle down, settle down.

There you go. Come on!

Whoa!

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!

No, not me, people. You can keep this one.

Tony, oh, no, wait!

No, let her come to you.

And then say "maybe" at least once.

Apparently the Racing Association

doesn't keep track of incoming calls.

I mean, nobody remembers talking to Matt, much less why he called.

Well, you won't need that information from the Racing Association, Mrs. Fletcher.

We know who killed him. It was Gus Tardio.

We found tire prints that match Gus's truck on the shoulder 30 to 40 feet

from where Matt was killed.

And you picked him up?

No, just his truck. Got an APB out on him.

Sheriff, are you sure about those phone company records?

I mean, Matt called the Racing Association

and he called Catherine Noble, and nobody else?

That's also why I'm here. I brought the printout.

This is a bulletin from the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Oops. Sorry about that.

I must've grabbed it by mistake. It looked like the right one.

I'll tell you what, I'll go back, pick it up and bring it back to you, how's that?

Looked like the right one. Of course!

Why wouldn't it? Except for the rail.

Come again?

Sheriff, I believe I know what this is all about.

But we've got to get over to the Raleigh Racetrack right away.

Can you alert security?

Well, I'll sure try, but I'm not sure I understand, Mrs. Fletcher.

I'll explain it on the way over.

I've got to talk to the man at the racetrack.

I believe that Swift Prince is in grave danger.

Freeze! Drop it!

What is this stuff?

Triethyl chloronate.

It's a lethal poison. The horse would have been dead within five minutes.

You see, I assumed that what Matt had written on his notepad

was Victor, Wyoming. And then it hit me

that the W-Y could also be an abbreviation for "Way,"

and the Racing Association confirmed it for me. Victor Way,

owned by Mentone Stables, a horse that looks very much like Swift Prince.

That's the horse in Swift Prince's trailer, right over there.

And the numbers tattooed inside their lower lips were similar enough

that they could also be altered sufficiently to fool

Catherine Noble and Wally Hampton.

But not enough to convince the track stewards, if we wanted to race him.

Plus, they might have recognized their contrasting styles.

Swift Prince was always on the inside

and Victor Way couldn't be held in at the turns.

But why switch horses? Why go to all that trouble?

Money. Lots of it.

Victor Way is a good horse, but Swift Prince is a great horse.

And unless I'm very much mistaken, at this very moment,

he's running somewhere in South America as Victor Way,

and cleaning up for Mr. Mentone and his gambler friends.

And what was supposed to happen was you were gonna clean up another million

on this Swift Prince's stud fees.

It's all true but I didn't murder anyone.

Sure, you didn't.

Sheriff, Mr. Mentone's telling the truth.

He didn't kill Matt, but I think I know who did.

Car doors slamming? That told you who did it?

I had just come into Matt's office last night, as he was rushing out.

I barely noticed hearing a single car door slam.

I'll talk to you about it later, Jess. I got to run.

That was the killer arriving at the stable.

And then a few moments later, I heard two doors slam...

and the sound of Matt's truck starting up and driving off.

Well, he was on his way over to tell Wally and me

what he had discovered about Swift Prince.

That's right. But he never made it,

because his killer had gotten into his truck with him.

It was you, Tracey.

Jessica, that's ridiculous. Why would I kill Matt?

To keep Wally and your mother from learning the truth about Swift Prince.

To keep her from losing those millions of dollars in stud fees,

money that she badly needed in order to hold onto the farm

for herself, and for you.

That's a very serious accusation, Jessica.

Yes, Catherine, it is.

No.

No, you're wrong.

Mother, tell her to stop. I mean, she can't prove any of this.

I can't, Tracey. But there was an eyewitness.

Gus Tardio saw everything. He was parked on the shoulder

not far down the road from where you got Matt to stop.

Tracey, for God's sake, tell me this isn't true.

She's right.

I, uh...

just arrived at the stables to see Paul,

and Matt came rushing out.

Matt, Matt, what is it? Why are you so excited?

Tracey, your mom and Wally have been taken big time by Mentone.

What do you mean?

Why, that isn't Swift Prince in there.

It's some claimer named Victor Way. I've got to tell them.

Oh, my God! I'm going to go with you.

All I knew was that if the truth got out, Mother would lose everything.

I hope this doesn't sound too rough,

but for what Mentone did, I think he ought to be whipped.

I had to stop him somehow.

Um... Matt, I... I feel sick.

Sick?

Could you pull over, please?

Yeah, sure.

Are you all right, honey?

So I let the air out of his tire,

and I left the flashlight,

and then I walked back to the stable.

Where you came in and asked me if I'd seen Paul,

as if you'd just driven up.

I never dreamed that Gus was out there watching.

He wasn't, Tracey.

I got the idea because they found his tire tracks near the murder site,

but they were from another time. It was Gus

who was paid by Lloyd Mentone to try and drug Swift Prince,

but he has an alibi for last night.

I'm sorry, Mother. So sorry.

I'm afraid I bear some of the responsibility here.

Jill, look at that, huh?

Opening up a three-length lead,

and still flying under a...

Oh, we got it now, we got it!

He's lengthening his lead to seven lengths, and wins going away...

I could watch that eight or ten more times tonight.

And here's a toast to some very flexible track officials

for letting us make a last-minute name change.

Yes.

Jessica, I have one question for you.

What was that business with the failed attempt to drug Victor Way?

Well, Lloyd Mentone admitted he hired Gus to do it,

but to make sure that we found the syringe,

so you'd have the horse tested before the race and withdraw his entry.

I can't believe how Catherine and I bought into Lloyd's scheme.

Well, you know, Dad, maybe it's the Hampton genes.

Seeing only what we want to see,

until we wake up.

To Matt, for seeing what should have been obvious to the rest of us.

And to Mrs. Fletcher, for getting us to take a second look.