Post by Cavallo on Sept 24, 2012 23:21:02 GMT -5
Not much was known about the grey three year old filly and in reality, the filly preferred it that way...her name was rather ironic because Ice was not the type of filly that searched out the limelight. She was perfectly comfortable in her paddock lazying about, but then...when it came to racing...it was almost as if the filly did a personality switch.
It was March the last time Nick had race the filly, when Ice had come in a shocking and disappointing 6th place, an unacceptable placement in Nick's logic. Ice was much more capable and it was about time the world was exposed to the other side of Ice, the wild, determined and racing worthy side. Her sire was none other than Spotten By a Star - a Twilight Stakes Champion and Pegausus Stakes Winner! Her dam was none other than Regency - the dam of Sayonara (BC Winner) and Murder Afire (Dawn Treader Cup Winner). She was pure proven MHS lines, old and special and definitely worthy of the competition here at The Wire.
The race was looking to be chalk full of good competition. In gate one was the SOPS owned Sweet Inferno. She was a front runner and was out of the ARS HoF mare Sweet Stalker. Definitely a filly to be aware of. But Ice had a year of maturity on the younger filly, which Nick would keep in mind.
In gate two, there was Midnight Thriller. Racing under the Witch Creek silks, the black Night Stalker x El Sol Del Mar filly was making a turn around in her racing career. Her last race was April Week 2, where she had come in a disappointing fourth. She'd be out for blood this go around running behind and stalking the leaders.
Gate three was another three year old like Ice, This Means War. Oak Hill Farm was back on the racing scene and they were doing well for being out of the game. This would be the colt's first race this year, a slight disadvantage consodering the field, but he wasn't to be written off. He'd won a few big wins in his two year old season. He would be running in the back as a closer.
Then there was Seeking Stardom in gate four. Nick smiled as he looked to the grey filly. She walked eagerly beside him, a rarity, but she knew they were headed to the track and the track meant running. Ice was a versatile runner. She had no issues running behind the leaders stalking, but she was just as satisfied stealing the win from the back. Nick thought about the field. This go around, he'd run the grey filly in the back. It'd be important to keep an eye on the leading horses. That's were all the big names would be, pushing each other and wearing the competition down...and hopefully forgetting about him and Ice in the back with only This Means War to really worry about.
The last entry was none other than Stalker's Fury form Star Thoroughbreds. She was coming off a second place finish in the Oaks on GHF and would be running in the front come race day alongside Sweet Inferno.
The pace with these kinds of hot tempered horses was going to be fast and furious, but Nick knew Ice would have no problems keeping the pace and waiting for her chance to steal the win from the back. Sweet Inferno and Stalker's Fury would have a mad speed dual and Midnight Thriller would be right there egging them on. He smiled as he rode his charge through their breeze.
Ice reached forward, stretching her muscles and feeling the power of her own loose stride. Her haunches were powerfully built and big and what was even better, she knew how and when to use them.
This wasn't going to be an easy race, but Nick felt that they could steal this win! Ice let loose a little buck as she settled back into her stride, thoroughly enjoying the thunder of her own hooves. No longer was there simply going to be myths about this Spotted By a Star daughter...it was time to make this wish upon the shooting star who would be galloping her way into the finish strong and true....ready to run the competition off their feet.
