secret admirers [Witch Creek/Intrepid]

[Ripley]

"I have to say this is one of your crazier ideas, Ripley Marsh," Reese said as she tightened the girth up on Taboo. The sleek gray roan filly stood in between the cross-ties, wide eyes staring out of the barn. It was almost as if she knew that there would be an intrusion into the Witch Creek atmosphere. She stared away like she was waiting her world to come crashing down around her. It would be Reese's job to catch the filly in her fall. It always was. When routine was broken, the Everyday Hero filly just melted down into a puddle. Routine would be broken not once, not twice, but three times today. Three horses from Intrepid Racing Stables would be pitted against Cross My Heart and Taboo over the training hills.

"I know, I know. But I want them to meet Lethal Dose and get Nick's opinion on Noc. While they're here, they might as well kill two birds with one stone. You know how busy it is Reese. Breeders' Cup's right around the corner. Any mismanaged move will knock a horse out of contention." Reese hummed, but when she looked up her eyes were filled with concern. "And you? Are you okay to ride up until the Breeders' Cup?"

Ripley smiled, "It's only four horses. And you're taking Hourglass over for me, at least in the mornings. Saint, Cross, Mastermind and her will take care of me. I trust them with my life." She stroked the jet black mare's neck, turning her worried gaze to Cross. The filly was such an integral part of her life, had been for the last three years. "I've got a great team, elite horses and a fabulous place.."

"Don't you get mushy with me, Marsh." Reese said, voice soft. The slim woman was getting slapped with a wave of hormones because of her pregnancy. Usually cold as ice and prickly, Ripley was turning into a sap. "Don't forget, you're letting the enemy onto our turf."

Ripley let out a watery laugh, but she stiffened up enough to go over both fillies one more time. "I know, I know. I'll grow a pair. Don't worry. But Reese, thanks for being here. We aren't the greatest friends, but I appreciate it anyway." Reese smiled. "We're more like sisters. I got you, Ripley."

Both women looked up when Tabz and Cross let out high-pitched neighs. "There's our early warning."

A minute later, the sound of tires spitting up gravel greeted two fiercely proud women. It was game time.

[Cavallo]

Nick parked the truck with the trailer as the three jockeys quickly proceeded to hop out of the truck to get to business. Kyle and Michael ragged on one another as they went to the back of the banging trailer. Angelina Voldaire stepped out, momentarily taking in her new surroundings with interest. She'd been working with Intrepid for a year now since coming over from Argentina and it was rare, if ever, that she went somewhere other than the farm or the tracks so this was a welcomed change. She took in the rolling turf course and arched an eyebrow as she took in the graded hill. Well. That was one way to keep your turfers in shape and she looked forward to the little thrill the hills would add to today's workout. Ethan Marino came up behind and bumped the twenty-two year old. "Taking in the sights?" He teased the young woman and she rolled her eyes and elbowed him in response. He chuckled and motioned his head to the trailer, a sign to get going. There was a lot that needed to be accomplished today and only so much time could be allotted to sight-seeing.

Nick whacked his weanling trainer in the back of the head and gestured over to where Ripley and Reese stood waiting and ready. "Quit harassing my staff Marino." He calmly smiled back at the glare Ethan was shooting his way and walked over to the boss of the grounds with his long and easy stride, Marino calmly keeping up a few paces behind, hands casually in his worn work jeans. Michael led out a high-strung Samhain, his feet instantly dancing over the turf as his white-rimmed eyes savaged the scenery with his dominant intentions. Working him quickly from the ground, Michael spun the colt tightly in distraction and walked him out of the way to the side of the trailer as he briefly tied the colt and began to finish the tacking process. Kyle led out an annoyed looking Acantha as she sent glares in her stablemates direction, baring her teeth as Kyle led her past the colt at a safer distance to finish his own tacking. Angelina shook her head at the display as she waited her turn to go inside the trailer. The two more boisterous three year olds out of the way, she calmly stepped into the trailer and smiled at the stunning black filly. With ears pricked and alert and eyes bright, the energetic filly stamped an impatient foreleg at being the only horse left in the trailer. Speaking in a soothing Spanish lilt she soothing the four year old as she led her in high-stepping brilliance into the morning light of the day. She stepped down with a little hop of eagerness from the trailer as Angie guided her to conduct the same process that her coworkers where wrapping up with.

Michael, ever efficient and business-like was the first to finish as he tightened the girth and swatted the black colt as he attempted to bite him in response. "None of that you savage." The colt raised his crown in hurt pride, but minded as Michael untied the colt and led him over to where Nick, Ethan and the waiting Witch Creek was. Kyle laughed as he saw Samhain in his peripheral and stroked Prick in easy praise. She was a snob, his Prick, but she did everything with excellence and was simply one of his push-button rides. She was beginning to show a more solid form and just in time too. Most of the important races were looming before the end of the year and she would need to be on top of it and today was a nice way to change things up and improve their performances. He guided the filly in Sammy's wake, but her eyes were already looking beyond the colt. She knew how to handle Samhain, but the fillies ahead were new and they locked on with intention on the black. Kyle ran a soothing hand along her neck as he felt the hyper-focused nature of his mount rise to the surface. She was analyzing, as always, the competition and he felt her competitive drive begin to rear it's head. She snorted and side-stepped slightly, but followed Kyle's leading just the same towards the unknown. Angelina was done quick as a flash to make up time for her dawdling and was coming up just alongside Acantha and Kyle. She smiled at the rolling green before them and felt her own excitement rise as Goddess danced brightly with an eager snort of her own.

"Marsh, thanks for letting this small crew run your turf. It's an impressive track to say the least." Nick complemented the facilities and nodded back at his crew. "I know everyone here is eager for the small change of scenery."

[Ripley]

Cross My Heart pinned her ears at the sight of the intruders, turning herself from beautiful to beautifully savage. The coal black filly mare rolled her eyes, tossed her perfectly dished head in the direction of Samhain in warning. In Front whistled in challenge, the powerful hurtled himself along the paddock line with thunderous strides. In another paddock, his sire, the ever dominating Touch Up, threw some bucks and stood at the gate, pawing the earth. There was no warm welcome for a colt of Samhain's magnitude. Cross danced at the end of Ripley's line, furious and glistening in her glory. She tolerated Taboo well enough, but Acantha and Night Goddess were another topic all together.

Ripley shook the reins at the mare, sending the horse backward. "Enough now." The horse snorted, flaring her nostrils, but she wasn't giving up the subject by any means. Ripley patted the mare's shoulder before smiling brilliantly in Nick Landing's direction. "You won't be thanking me when you realize how tiring it is. But you're welcome to it." She nodded to Reese, "You've met Reese. This is her filly Taboo."

Reese was too busy watching Taboo to acknowledge the Intrepid crew. Tabz was stock still, legs four poster squared beneath her. Cross' fury had put the molten gray filly on edge and she was not moving until cleared by Reese. Reese eased up to the filly, stroking a hand along her neck. "Come on Tabby, girl. No need to be frightened." With a huff of breath, the wild eyes cleared and brightened. In a matter of moments, Taboo was relaxed beneath Reese's gloved hand. "Alright. We're ready when you are."

Ripley nodded, relaxing herself when Taboo settled. Keeping the filly comfortable was the key to success. When she was on her game and confident, Taboo could be absolutely lethal. This two year old season was just a breath of Tabz' talent. Like Cross, when the gray daughter of Everyday Hero settled in, there would be fireworks for the finale.

Ripley slipped into the saddle of Cross, nearly laughing when the black danced beneath her. "So the track is a mile and a half of hills. With these horses, we usually cut it a mile and a quarter. At the end of the hills is a three furlong flat where we breeze or work."

"What do you want to do, breeze or work?" said Reese with a challenging glint in her eyes.

[Cavallo]

Michael's eyebrows arched as the grounds erupted with the calls of dominance floating in the air, but then felt right at home, it wasn't too much different back at Intrepid but with Augusto, Admiral and Xenophon lines running all over the place it was to be expected. Samhain chortled at the greeting and danced like a snake hooked on a line as he glared at the black filly, he bared his teeth in reply to the shadow of his sentiments, but Michael was swift with a violent flick of the line. He threw his crown high and danced on his front legs, but stilled to stare down the blatant opponent. Acantha's dark eyes glittered like steel as she took in the players, her stare unflinching and missing nothing. Night Goddess was, along with Cross, one of the oldest here and she wore her maturity with a an easy acceptance, foreleg striking the turf in a show of eagerness.

Marino crossed his arms behind Nick as he nodded to both Ripley and Reese and took close note of Marsh's usual workout description. He cocked his head slightly wondering just what Landing's course of action would be, but he had a general idea where the boss was leaning. The trio of horses was in need of a sweat breaking work and sure enough Landing nodded in affirmation. "Well then, lead the way Marsh and lets get these horses of mine sweating here. They need to be put to work of course." Angie moved first as she swung up into the saddle of the black filly. Goddess stepped slightly in place as Angie got her seat. Kyle looked up from the ground questioningly at the small Latina, but shook his head as if thinking better of saying what he was thinking and launched himself up aboard the bay Prick. She snorted and stared down Taboo as Kyle gathered the reins and found his seat.

Seeing that the decision had been made, Michael joined the others and was swiftly seated aboard the aggravated, but eager to move Samhain. A mile and a quarter it would be then. Samhain started forward, but was pulled back by Michael's strong legs and hands. "Sammy, where are your manners?" He muttered to the colt, but the sole male here, he didn't feel the least bit inclined to be the gentleman. He looked to the other two who nodded their readiness as he looked to Ripley and Reese, "Ready when you are."

[Ripley]

Reese did not look back upon hearing Nick's choice. He thought his horses could keep up with the fleetest of Witch Creek's. The only horse faster than Cross on a flat track, and that on some days, was Innocent Passion and she wasn't here. Instead Acantha, Night Goddess and Samhain were here to take the black witch on. On her own track, no one could beat Cross and with those distance horses, it was likely her record would remain unbeaten after this.

Reese posted to the easy trot gait of Taboo. Now Taboo would have her hooves full. Acantha was a clear middle distance horse. As was Night Goddess, though she tended to do well at longer distances. The same could be said for the handsome Samhain. Taboo was sleek as a silver fish, but mature she was not. She was brutally fast and as long as no one ganged up on her, she would do well on her own.

Ripley watched Taboo stretch into an easy lope with her tail and head high. She was a dainty filly, but God, she could run. With her green eyes fixed on the roan filly, Ripley said, "Don't go too hard on the gray. I've got her right where I want her and I don't need your ruffians taking her down. She's not an easy horse to train to say the least." Pausing, Ripley cast a sensational smile at the riders. "Now, Cross here. You can try to take her down a peg, but no one here has done so yet. Home field advantage."

Without another word, Ripley released the black mare. She went from halted to full speed ahead within a matter of three strides. Her nostrils flared to the size of teacup saucers as she over took Taboo at the base of the first hill. Taboo lifted into a cruising gallop beneath Reese, hooves hitting in perfect rhythm. Her eyes blazed in fury as Reese allowed the black witch to race away on her own. Usually, she was allowed to go with Cross My Heart.

Reese jerked the bit back out of Tabz' teeth, waiting for the moment when the filly realized that Cross was not the only enemy. In the slimmest of movements, Tabz' ears slid backward. And suddenly, the filly slowed to a smooth a gallop. A smirk crossed Reese's face right then. The Everyday Hero filly had something her older sisters had not had at this age: craftiness.

[Cavallo]

For all the business that Nick conducted with Witch Creek, they were great friends, but racing was a whole different beast. There would be no grace given to them and none would be extended, this was a workout to push and better his mounts and he expected nothing less than their best efforts. Nick nodded at Marsh's request and looked to his riders who nodded in the affirmative. It was apparent that the roan filly was nowhere near Cross' level of confidence, but Michael watched the filly as she set off into motion and knew that the filly wasn't to be simply written off. The gift of versatility was something that both Samhain and Acantha were gifted with and it was a tool that both jockeys had learned to wield in a lethal manner on the tracks and no exceptions would be made today. Michael looked ahead and took in the track, his mind quickly calculating a rate of speed that would be agreeable. The Intrepid crew didn't just run on flat tracks, hacking was a part of the conditioning process that each horse routinely maintained, they were not out gunned here, but the two fillies did have a home field advantage and that wasn't a factor he was going to dismiss. Samhain's eyes locked onto the black filly and Michael eased the colt forward as he powerfully hit his stride with ease. They quickly followed in Cross' wake as they passed Taboo, but the black colt merely pinned an ear as they passed as Michael directed the colt to pace off of Cross' back right haunch.

Acantha was not one to be left out of the game and as Cross, Tabz and Sammy took off she found a path and Kyle was of one accord as the bay filly unfurled her length into motion. Nick watched Acantha with cold blue eyes. There was a natural warmth about Nicholas Landing, but there was nothing soft and inviting about him now as he watched the daughter of Rosalind take to the turf. She had been coming into top form at the end of last year, but this year had been a fight with main competition coming from this very stable. She was coming back into form, he could see it in her rippling form, it had begun to harden in the past few months and she was close. He'd dropped her in level for the upcoming weeks and knew that the boost in confidence was exactly what she needed. She began to find her stride as he watched the cold duo inch up behind Cross and Samhain and right to the right of a smoothly galloping Taboo. Kyle steadied the filly and she had no qualms with her position as she settled in with an easy confidence, her mind settling to the task at hand.

Angie and Goddess broke with a fluid stride, the four year old filly was maturity and form as she came to life over the rolling hills. Angie felt the thrill of the filly in her hands as they moved as one to the back of the pack, but there was no urgency or despair in their position as they settled a length behind Acantha and Taboo. Cunning grew in Angie's mind as she looked ahead at the field. Cross was the leader of this tirade with Samhain smartly biding his time on her flank. Acantha was a loaded gun, waiting like a cobra for her chance to strike as she and Kyle gave off a decieving tirade of indifference alongside the grey roan called Taboo and all this she saw and took in from the back as Goddess thrummed with the future prospect of truly unleashing her powers and stretching her legs. Angie felt the new rising confidence in the black and she was going to do everything within her powers to not undermine this growing strength, let them forget about them in the back, it would only be to their advantage.

[Ripley]

The company they kept today on the track was an impressive bunch. Samhain and Acantha were maintaining high cruising speed, speed enough to keep within striking distance of Cross My Heart. The fleet older mare, in this moment, was the class of the bunch. At a youthful age, she'd possessed raw talent and speed. Now she had wisdom and cunning with enough guts to match. The lean black mare steadied in her across the short valley, allowing Samhain to inch closer. Ripley knew the horse she had under her quite well. She felt the mare's instinct to break the colt's heart and held her back. Samhain had once been considered a Witch Creek prospect before Landing had removed the colt from the sale.

Now, he was an enemy and Cross considered herself the prosecutor. Her ears were pinned and her eyes were blazing with absolute fury. She rolled along quite nicely with her mouth on the bit. She had a ton of horse and Ripley was absolutely ecstatic. This is exactly what she needed to feel the week before Cross faced off with Innocent Passion once again. The black mare moved eloquently up the next hill, tail flying high like one of those Bedouin desert horses.

Taboo had definitely matured a lot in the second half of the season. Her every movement was a focused, determined one. When Samhain had blown by with pinned ears, Tabz hadn't even flinched. The good thing about running in large fields was the two year olds were forced to grow a big pair. Great preparation for the giant fields in next year's Turf Tiara or Green Mile. She may not be the standout, but Reese felt that she could be a very threatening dark horse.

With smooth strides, Tabz tucked in behind Acantha up the final hillside. Her ears were slanted backward to listen for the older mare. Night Goddess. Reese knew Night Goddess was suffering from seconditis, but once she got her act together, she would be potent. For now, they would treat her as the enemy and give Tabz some experience against a mentally tough horse.

Cross did not pause as she normally did at the crest of the steepest hill. The three furlong flat spread before her and she did not intend to take any prisoners. Ripley could feel the raw want in this mare. She wanted a clear victory. No more close finishes and she was still as fast as she had been at the age of two. Ripley sucked in a breath just before Cross hurled herself off the edge of the hill three feet up and rocketed onto the flat. Her legs blurred beneath her in a flurry of heated action. The Intrepid horses were going to have to give it their best to take the black mare down.

[Cavallo]

There was something to be said of a horse that could others to their limits and it was easy to see that Cross was that horse in this bunch. She had a lot of class, but then so did the others that were closing in on the black filly from Intrepid. Michael watched as Marsh unleashed her filly for the finish and he was quick to move. Samhain was only too eager to prove to this competition that he was not the one who was easily broken. Acantha dug in at the close and began to unfurl her power in her hot pursuit of the leads. There was no delay or hesitation on their end as they came upon the crest of the hill and charged down for the finish. Samhain was roaring up in growing power on the dark leader with malicious intentions, but Acantha was more than keyed up to play her role in the end event.

Night Goddess flew suddenly with lethal intention as the black filly ascended the heel in leaps and bounds. She was awakened and alive and Angie spurred her on to enter into the fray. Her sights zeroed in on the far right. She cruised down the outside as she pulled alongside closing in on Acantha's flank. Samhain was tackling the leader with a cold eye of determination, his strides reaching for more ground as Michael urged the colt down the hill. The drop in descent has his stomach rising in the moment of brief weightlessness, but it didn't hinder the black's assault in any manner. Drawing alongside her, Michael dared not to look to the left, but read the signs of his mount. There was plenty left in the tank, but the end was lingering. It was press now or falter and none of those options would do.

Samhain lunged in tandem with Cross for the finish. Acantha was there though like a shadow of doom and Kyle had lost track of where Taboo was, but he had a sneaky suspicion she wasn't far. Nick watched from the rail as Ethan watched the final leg with avid interest. Samhain and Cross were neck and neck, but Nick knew the filly would make another push soon at the end. Acantha was much fresher at this point and as the end approached she pressed her advantage and closed in on the leaders. Three wide they went and Night Goddess and Taboo were still flying and in the works. He smiled as Night Goddess' form was a blur in motion and contention,the added momentum of the hill's descent making her a lethal force to behold. Two hundred yards to the finish and Night Goddess was suddenly a very real threat as she hit full-stride for the finish. There was no mercy being shown here as the four year old rose to the full graces of her experience and talent. Unhindered on the outside she was a dark fury and Angie was a grinning like a cat that ate the canary.

With a flourish the herd stampeded past the finish with Acantha and Samhain's ears pinned in defiance at the upset that Goddess had accomplished. Wherever Cross and Tabz ended in this workout was irrelevant to the trio as each rider felt the growing limits in their mounts. This was a workout that pushed the limits of horses alike and competition that pulled the best out of each and Nick was pleased to see the lathered bodies of horses that had done work, nares flared and blowing hard with exertion. "That Night Goddess is really coming into form there Landing and she got the best of Sammy and Prick today, but I'm not thinking that those other two will be letting an act like that slide again in the near future." He smiled as each rider pulled up their mounts, their mouths all ablaze with taunting and teasing, but there was the gleaming eyes of adrenaline and excitement in the air. It had been a solid workout indeed and these Intrepid horses were definitely benefiting from the unique track that could only be found at Witch Creek and he was grateful.

[Ripley]

There was nothing like riding Cross My Heart across a wide open plain of grass. The black mare was simply in a league of her own. She poured on the speed, poured on still more when Samhain roared up to her and then Acantha. The black mare's ears slid back into her mane and her eyes flashed with fury. These closers were not going to dethrone her. Not here, not on her home turf. With as much as grit as she had shown in all of her previous races, Cross bolted through the wire a head in front of the younger horses.

It was not enough for the next stride was a buck, followed by a squeal. Ever prepared, Ripley hung on tight as the lean black tore up the next hill, away from her workmates. It was not often that their rivals saw a temper tantrum from Cross My Heart. She only did it when she thought she had failed in some way. Ripley knew that next run was going to be explosive to say the least. She spun the mare around at the crest of the gallop-out hill and watched Taboo fly beneath Reese. If there was ever a horse to be mesmerized by, it was Taboo.

The Everyday Hero filly was unearthly. She mirrored Night Goddess' ever moving, but quieter. She was a phantom next to a demon. She seemingly never touched the ground and gave the viewer an eerie tingle. Tabz was something beautiful and Reese only moved a couple times to keep the filly side by side Night Goddess.

The broad grin that stretched across Reese's face said it all for Ripley. Taboo was definitely living up to the recent turnaround. Ripley bumped hands with Reese as she cantered her filly by. Cross lurched after her, attempting to savage the junior. Ripley slapped the mare's neck in punishment, spinning her back to canter toward the Intrepid folk. "No need to be nasty, Cross!"

Ripley's scowl vanished into a smile when Cross drew up to the trio of IRS horses. "Fun track, isn't it?"

"You ready to go wash them? I have several horses I believe you'll be interested to look at."

[Cavallo]

Michael pressed Samhain forward with a simple touch of his leg to off the tracks, but smiled at Ripley's comment. It was indeed a fun track and all three of them were exclaiming their own excitement and praises for the course. Night Goddess tossed her head and eagerly followed in Samhain's wake. Acantha snorted disdainfully back at Cross and refused to turn her back to the older filly. Kyle rolled his eyes, but was able to press her finally after a battle of wills to follow her stable mates back for a cool off.

Nick nodded in agreement. "Crew take them back to the trailer and tie 'em up for a rub down. There's buckets in the storage. Wash 'em off and wrap their legs." Michael who was leading the parade for the Intrepid trio waved his hand in acknowledgement. He watched his horses as they made their way with little incident back to the trailer and he turned again to Ripley. Ethan arched an eyebrow and decided it was time for him to oversee the trio and touched Nick's arm in passing to notify him of his leaving. Nick nodded and turned with added interest back to Ripley. "Hmmm and what horses did you have in mind then for me to take a look at??"