Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2012 4:34:14 GMT -5
Tears Of An Angel and Ivana Babicová
As winter was beginning to draw closer, it was a time for the Turf Challenge. Three races, all part of the two-year-old series. The first race, the Golden Slipper Stakes would take place next week over seven furlongs on the turf. Lucy had raced a solid season so far, stamping her down as one of the best two-year-olds racing on The Wire. She had nine wins under her belt, and was so close to breaking into the ten win mark, and into grade two. Next week though, she would be facing two horses that had grown increasingly stronger since she last faced them.
Cross My Heart was the filly that was a major threat in the Best Pal Stakes, but she managed to fight her down to win by a nose
in that race. She was a huge thread, but hadn’t raced since then, which left her at an advantage. She was ready for this race, and the filly was yet to beat Lucy, but something told me she could do it next week. She had five wins and four places under her belt, leaving her consistency at an all-time high, absolutely perfect.
Innocent Passion was a filly that Lucy hated with a passion… no pun intended. She had serious hatred for her. Anna was an insanely strong filly, with eight wins under her belt. She had recently won the Oak Leaf Stakes at the Wire and was, again, going to try and get her ninth win in 15 starts. She was an insanely strong filly, sired by Passionate Class, out of Little Miss Innocent, stamping her down as a potential hall of fame star.
Lucy is a very willing individual. She has a heart of solid gold and wouldn't harm a fly, unlike her aggressive mother. She is a blunt but very straight forward risk-taker, who will plunge into any task her jockey asks her. Lucy is the kind of horse that will try anything new, she will respond to everything and anything with quick, effective decisions. Her intelligence gets her quite far on the track. She is very responsive and quick-witted - in most cases she can't take no for an answer. She has a habit of rubbing her bridle on any near by post, which can often mean spending countless dollars on a new bridle.
On the track, Lucy is focused, stern, and stays that all the way through the race. She likes to break fast and relax behind the leaders. She doesn't have the dominant vibe of a traditional front runner, so if she does end up going for the lead, she would either go too fast, or go too slow, which is why she likes to relax behind the front runners. She isn't the traditional mare, she won't launch for you, or get all 'overprotective' like her mother was, she will relax, and go with the flow.
Cryin' Out Loud is an impressive stallion, having reached Grade One status on the track before retiring within seventeen wins. As a sire, Cryin' Out Loud has a number of foals the same age as Lucy including the impressive Sophie's Voice. Blood Of The Angel was unraced due to a fracture and so went straight to brood at the age of four. As such, there is little to be said about her. She has a twin brother, Tears Of Blood, owned by Silver Stride Stables.
The filly looked around and Ivana kept her at a walk. She snorted, pricking her ears and walking forward energetically. After a few steps of walk, she broke into a trot, and Lucy tossed her mane around. It began to blow energetically in the wind. At the seven furlong pole, she let Lucy break into a canter. She stood in her stirrups, ready for the start of the five furlong workout. They continued to lope along the backside, until the six furlong pole where Ivana crouched down and began to push the filly forward. An extreme burst of speed and the filly began to fly towards a five furlong workout. They flew past the five furlong pole, the dirt beneath them flying behind them with each energetic stride.
The filly continued to power over the turf, flying through the first furlong in just under ten seconds. This filly was a true sprinter. She pricked her ears and ran like the wind. Entering the turn, she energetically changed her lead and sprinted rapidly into the home turn. Picking up speed, Ivana pushed her on even more. Her stride lengthened and she began to run for home. The crop rose and fell onto the filly’s rump, and Ivana stretched her arm out as far as it would go. They sprinted under the wire and all tension turned into relief. She stroked the filly’s neck and brought her back to a walk. Turning, she walked back to the stable and grinned. I stroked the fillies neck and looked at the time. Fifty one seconds flat. . Ivana threw her arms round the filly. So, we’re ready for this, Lucy. Lucy nickered and Ivana hopped off, feeling in her pocket for the treats she had found earlier. She took the polo out and Lucy chomped away at it. Good girl.
