Post by S u N f r O s T ~ on Jul 30, 2012 20:00:14 GMT -5
SIZZLING DAWN AND HENNA TURATH
ETERNAL PHANTOM AND KRYSTAL YHATE
DAWN'S WORKOUT FOR THE INTIPIDIO FINISH DERBY
PHANTIE'S WORKOUT FOR THE JUMPONBOARD DERBY
The two year old filly had been nothing but impressive in her last start. Dawn had defied the odds and placed second. Against older horses. Henna had gotten off of her mount feeling like a champion after the race. So what if Fiery Touch had defeated them? The three year old filly was fresher and more experienced. Dawn was two years old and making only the third start of her career. It had been a field of five or six and to get such an impressive result spoke volumes of Dawn's class. The bay was talented and people were beginning to take notice of her despite her less than impressive bloodlines. With a record of three starts for a win, a place and a show, she already turned heads. Now she had her next race, the Intipidio Finish Derby, to think about. They were facing three other horses, all of which were older, but Henna wasn't backing down yet, and Amber wasn't trying to convince her to this time. Dawn had proven herself capable of tackling the older horses despite her front running style. Henna's confidence had been rewarded.
Eternal Phantom was her workout partner today. The black three year old was being pointed to the Triple Crown despite the fact that she was a filly. Phantie had been nothing short of impressive when she won the Unicorn Horn Fillies Dirt against the likes of her full sister Midnight Thriller and Best Two Year Old Filly award winner as well as winner of the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Paradise Island. Those two were top class competition, but they were being pointed to the Triple Tiara. Phantie appeared to be the only filly going for the Crown, and Krystal had been working hard with her. They had faced the stable's best, working out tactics with them. They had faced the best filly of their age group and defeated her. No doubt there would be repeats, but for now Krystal basked in the glow of glory. Now, two weeks after that victory, he was prepping for the Jumponboard Derby. Krystal was hoping for the win, because then they'd only have one more to go before hitting grade three.
Phantie was quiet and silent as per usual today. Dawn, however, was a bit more energetic and expressive. The two year old was prancing and snorting. She knew what the track was about, and as soon as she spied Phantie she knew that the black filly would be her competitor for today. She was already beginning to bugle challenges at the black as though she was a colt challenging another colt. Phantie only responded with a glare in her eyes, a glare Dawn fed off of. Dawn was the most intense filly in the stable. She had amazing presence and now had a reason for such presence. Phantie, on the other hand, had a menacing aura that hung about her like a cloud. It was light and untouchable, but there. She looked like a harbinger of night as she moved forward, graceful and light, yet speaking volumes of power concealed in conditioned muscle. Dawn would be pie for the three year old filly to defeat. But the focus of the workout was just on that - teaching Dawn to be better.
As Krystal and Henna steered their mounts side by side, a conversation was started. So. You defeated Paradise Island. Where are you off to next? Krystal's response was said with a grin. Well, besides the Jumponboard Derby this week, we'll be going to the Spring Cup for our division race. March's plans haven't been written yet, so I'm not sure what's going on then. However, what are your plans for Dawn? She was impressive in the Grande Derby last week. You're racing her again so soon? Henna nodded. Yeah, she needs it. She loves the track here and is actually racing really well. I have the Parfair Derby scheduled for her two weeks after this as well. I don't want to push her too much, just enough to stoke her competitive fire. Krystal's response was a nod. That's my approach with Anna. She's already ahead of the two year old game with three wins, and I don't want her racing again until March. No need to ask for too much too soon. Do you want to pick up a canter? Henna nodded, and soon the two were cantering along at a steady pace.
Conversation ceased as the workout became more serious. The plan was to race the two together for about five furlongs. Henna didn't want to overwork Dawn and Krystal knew that Phantie's conditioning was going well and a longer workout was unnecessary. Thus, after about a half mile of cantering, the two women released their horses into a gallop. Smooth and sure was Dawn's stride, while Phantie's was laced with power and her eyes were tinged with menace. They were flying already and the real race hadn't even started yet. Phantie was coldly dismissing her competition while Dawn geared up to defeat the black filly. After another half mile of galloping the two women finally let their horses go and settle into their race positions.
Dawn took off, taking the lead, and Phantie comfortably settled two lengths off of her. Finding them unchallenged in the lead, Henna rated Dawn's pace accordingly. This was a valuable trait to have, especially if the field was full of older horses. They would need all the speed they could get to outlast them. Dawn was still thundering along at a good clip, her eyes focused ahead with a fierce edge to them. Phantie was controlled menace. She never once lost her cool as the furlongs ticked down and the time to move drew ever closer. While Dawn was on the lead, Phantie was gathering her acceleration and power into herself. With a furlong left to fly, Krystal finally let Phantie out and the black three year old narrowed the distance immediately. Within a half furlong she was alongside Dawn. The two year old gamely dug in and tried to give it her all but Phantie would not be denied. She swept under the wire almost teasingly, a half length in front.
Sizzling Dawn was a handful to pull up, but Henna got the job done. She wiped some sweat off of her forehead and grinned as Krystal and Phantie cantered back to them. The race had been good and confidence was flowing all around. Now they just had to wait and see.
