The Underdog.

<sub>[The Underdog] & Nick Landing
[Cosmic Warfare] & Kyle Landing

There was a lot of work to be done. Nick had been on the hunt for War Admiral offspring and he had been shocked to find The Underdog at a claiming race on the tracks. He'd been livid. The Underdog wasn't some piece of horse flesh to go to the highest bidder, he was royally bred and had a temperament that needed a special hand. No 'average joe' could handle a stallion like Danny. The last he'd seen the liver chestnut, he'd been killing it on the race tracks for his former owner Maria Esperanza (his former girlfriend/fiance'). As he'd stormed down to the track barns to find the owner of Danny, he'd been cursing in his head at Maria. How could she have just disposed of this stallion?! She knew how important War Admiral foals were to him and she'd just thrown this stallion away and hadn't even notified him! He'd had to collect himself before he spoke to the innocent purchaser, and the man had been understanding and sold him the stallion for a measly $65,000. If the man had only known what kind of horse Danny was, he wouldn't have settled that low...but Nick didn't argue. He'd had a contract on the colt anyways and if it came to legality, he had rights to the stallion anyways, so he was just being gracious about it anyways. The liver chestnut had rolled his eyes wildly at Nick's approach. He looked over the chestnut carefully as he pulled back into his stall sulkily and Nick was pleasantly surprised. The stallion was still in racing condition and had just smoked the legs off of the other racers in his claiming race...Danny still had the touch.

At four years of age, Nick knew he could do something still with this War Admiral x Stormwing son. He'd shipped the liver chestnut to Intrepid and Nick could tell that Danny felt right at home. It had been interesting to see Admiral's Revenge snort his distaste of his half-brother and Danny had arrogantly flicked his tail in the black's face. Nick made a mental note to keep the two separated. He knew War Admiral blood, better than anyone on any of the tracks and he knew these two stallions would duke it out to the death if given the chance. It was the price Intrepid paid to have the quickest horses on the tracks. Besides if the truth were to be told, the nicer horses bored Nick...the exception being Comeuppance...though he was still just as high energy...Nick smiled as he thought of all the horses at Intrepid...most were bad tempered, cold and calculating, but their stats couldn't be argued...they weren't strangers to the Winner's Circle.

He'd allowed the liver chestnut a month to settle in with light conditioning and lunging, but now was the time to start exposing The Underdog to the tracks. He looked at the stats for the racers in his barn and grimaced when he looked at Cosmic Warfare's stats. At four years of age, the colt wasn't where Nick thought he should be. Though he smiled when he saw that the grey half-brother to Allure, had claimed the win in his last outing....maybe just maybe...they had worked through his funk. With that win, Cos had finally broken in the Grade Four racing category. The colt had seemed to of taking a liking to the turf track here at The Wire, so he decided they would be focusing on the races here for the grey colt. There was a race in the first week of August and Nick penciled in Cos' name...

Then a brilliant idea came to him...why not have Danny work with Cos?! Now Nick normally rode they grey, but if he was honest...Cos was predictable and Nick himself knew that he didn't give Cos his all...maybe a jockey change was in order? Then he thought of Kyle. Nick had just sold Livin' the Jazz to Oak Hill, which meant Kyle had an open slot. The pair would do brilliant together. It would definitely captivate Cos' inquisitive puzzle solving mind and Kyle could use a challenge like the grey FS Waylay Attack son....then that also freed Nick up to ride the War Admiral son. It was almost like an unwritten rule, that Nick got first dibs to ride any War Admiral or Reve blood, but Nick had slowly relinquished his title..letting Adele ride Bellefire. Nick wasn't in his twenties anymore and his body wasn't in love with him when he jockeyed...he knew that the time was coming soon when he'd have to hang his cap on his jockey career, but he had room for Danny. That was for sure.

Yes, it was settled in his mind as he penciled in the workout and called Kyle. Kyle grab Cos and tack him up. He's got a race next week and you are riding him. I'll meet you at the practice track. He hung up, closed his books and walked over to the barns. He found Danny in his stall, chewing in boredom, on some hay he'd found on the floor of his stall. Come on Danny boy...it's time to start earning your keep here.

Nick wrestled with the stallion, but he eventually got Danny tacked and ready. Leading the stallion out of the barn, he mounted quickly before Danny got any ideas and quickly found his seat. The liver chestnut tossed his head and cow-kicked, but Nick held his seat firmly and pressed Danny forward to the track. Shaking his head in rebellion, he moved towards he track and then he laid eyes on Cosmic Warfare.

He stilled and went into automatic pilot, his eyes never leaving the warming up grey stallion. Nick smiled, yes this would be a great workout for both horses. Both were four years in age, ran the closer position and smart as all get-out. Nick knew the two would push each other and that was exactly what each needed.

Nick waved ahead at Kyle. He waved and smiled back at his cousin. Kyle was delighted. He'd always admired the grey stallion and now...he was being given the chance to take Cos' to the next level! Nick had laid the ground work with Cos and now Kyle had the task of developing it and he couldn't have been more thrilled. Cos snorted as he arched his neck like a carousel horse, cantering fully in his warmup. He looked fantastic. Kyle couldn't put his finger on it, but something had really changed in the grey stallion. The first half of the year, he'd seemed almost disinterested in racing, but now with that last win it was like something had finally awakened within the stallion. He was out to win, not just compete anymore. The grey responded well to his touch and cues, it was as if the two had been meant for each other. Around the track they went, passing other horses that were out exercising and still Cos got a thrill out of every horse they passed, he was becoming increasingly more energetic and rowdy, but Kyle was able to keep the grey on track. They heard a thunder of hooves from behind as Danny and Nick came cantering alongside.

You two look so great together Kyle! Nick genuinely meant the compliment, he silently wondered why he hadn't thought of this partnership before. Kyle smile beamed his excitement. He's a dream...he also just seems different...I don't know what happened in that last race you and him won...but he's all fire...I love it. Cos eyed Danny and Danny returned the glare. Danny had been solely focused on Cos and now that they were side by side...he was ready to blow this other brute away. Nick smiled as he felt the tension growing on the bit. This is going to be quite a fun workout I think...let's take them four furlongs. Hold them the first three and let the beasts roar on the fourth. Kyle smiled and slapped Cos' neck, the grey stallion snorted and tossed his head. Danny responded equally to Cos' disdain, shaking his head and pulling at the bit. Nick couldn't contain his grin...it was like they were revving two sports cars at the starting line and things were about to explode.

Ready...set....GO! Nick tapped Danny once and he was off like a shot, but Cos was right there matching him stride for stride. Danny grew furious and tugged for more of his head, but Nick held him in check...Not yet Danny...not yet.. Cos was having a field day! He critically watched Danny, saw the hot-headed nature and Kyle could of sworn he saw the colt plotting in his head. He didn't fight for more, but moderated his speed to match that of Danny's...he didn't let the competition gain an inch and he knew exactly what he was doing. The more he kept pace with Danny, the more furious and hot-headed he grew...but was the grey colt playing with fire? Kyle hoped Cos knew what he was doing.

The first three furlongs flew in similar fashion and by this time Danny was like a volcano and Cos was like a a child at play. Kyle laughed, but knew that now was the time to put an end to games and Danny was the first to end the game. Enraged and well-fueled, Nick smiled and finally let the four year old have his head. The response was explosive. Danny shot forward past Cos' as though the grey were standing still. Kyle rode Cos and felt the snap within the grey. He wasn't playing games now. The speed the colt turned out was breath-taking as he closed in on Danny with a furious, focused passion. The high energy colt was tapping into his reserves as they gained on Danny and Nick and then....the finish.

Cos had slipped his nose out in front of Danny and Danny was livid to see the grey once again by his side. Kyle quickly brought Cos down, while Nick let Danny canter out a lead to make the stallion feel secure in himself again. He looped Danny back around and smiled over at Kyle and Cos. The grey stood resolutely like a proven champion. You and Cos are going to do great...I would definitely say that Cos has finally found his stride... Kyle laughed as he rubbed Cos' neck. Yes, but I'm pretty sure that the next go around between Cos and Danny...may not have the same results... Nick laughed...he had the same suspicion. He was going to get Danny as much exposure as possible on the tracks before they took on a race, but he had some good feelings about this War Admiral son...it felt so good to be on one again.

Word Count: 1,791</sub>