sing the ode

[S u N f r O s T ~]

ODE TO GLORY AND KRYSTAL YHATE
WORKOUT FOR WEST VIRGINIA DERBY

The gray colt had lightened in color since the Breeders Cup and his death defying dead heat with Blue Me Away. His eyes calmly searched Krystal's own as his rider leaned against his stall door, gazing inward almost blearily. Ode To Glory. The horse nobody thought could win a race but had somehow done it anyway, before fading to a lack of renown again. How had it happened? What was she doing wrong? Why wasn't Ode showing that talent he had shown about a month ago? He had been very much present and trying in the Unicorn Horn Turf but had only pulled third. It hadn't been his best effort. Maybe he was just inconsistent? But whatever the case, they had to get it together.

The most important part of the Turf Triple Crown trail was building a strong resume for success. Ode needed that backing in order to stand a chance. He needed the wins, the trips to the winners' circle. He needed to not fall behind his peers. He was entered in the West Virginia Derby over this track and then the Coronation Cup at Green Horse Fields next week. His competition was not going to wait for him. They had to be ready. Krystal felt some doubts regarding the Turf Triple Crown but stood strong. Ode was her ticket to fame and glory, and a horse she held dearly to her heart. She had to have faith in his abilities as a racehorse even when she felt like they might never get there. She had to keep trying.

In minutes they were out on the bustling Wire turf track. The place had definitely become more populated in the last couple of months. Horses swung by on their inside, working out, and some looked very impressive. Ode, standing at nearly seventeen hands high, looked impressive himself. He was made of muscle, but there wasn't a mean bone in his body. He quietly listened to Krystal's commands even as his eyes followed the movements of these other equines, tensing when they passed, revealing his innate desire to beat them all. He loved to run and Krystal thought he liked to win too. They just had to get back there and turn around again. They would not be counted out.

Steadily they trotted, and then upped the pace to a canter, and then to a gallop. Each transition was seamless and graceful, beautiful to the core. Ode was a graceful creature, but a powerful one too. He liked to run and run and run, similar to his new best friend Infinite Warcry. Krystal was in sync with his movements with barely a thought. They had spent hours out here on the track together, prepping for the races. They would just need to work harder than others on getting to where they needed to be, wanted to be. Their goals mattered to them and were not to be cast aside with just one performance. One performance did not declare the better horse.

Ode suddenly moved forward now, picking up the pace of his own accord. They had just swept through a mile and he was apparently ready to begin flooring it now. Sprint sequence initiated thought Krystal and grinned. She leaned forward, feeling the wind as Ode did. Come on Ode. You have more, don't you? she whispered, and fed out some more rein. Eagerly received. Ode continued to accelerate beautifully, almost uniformly, his legs quickening in frequency of strides and the world blurring around them. Krystal's eyes teared as the impressive speed she loved overtook them. Ode was in full flight and there was no stopping him.

Before long she slowed the gray colt down. Ode was a heap of stamina and he was only breathing a little faster than normal as she slowed him. He looked content, as though working as impressively as he just had was what he lived for and what he would always strive for. Krystal couldn't help. She leaned forward, threw her arms around his neck, breathed in the sweat on it and then leaned back, her face in a wide smile and her worries gone. They would rock it or go down trying!