Post by S u N f r O s T ~ on Feb 3, 2014 19:04:11 GMT -5
ITALIAN ICE AND VALENCIA ANDREWS
IMPRESSIONABLE AND KRYSTAL YHATE
WIRE FINISH CUP DIRT/JUVENILE DIRT WORKOUT
Amber Black looked up from where she was intently poring over papers to welcome the horses participating in the second workout of the day. Her green eyes were glittering with calculation as she met the eyes of her riders and gave them a single nod of welcome. Krystal Yhate was looking a bit windblown from her scarily fast workout aboard Innocent Passion, but she settled right into the saddle of Impressionable as though she was born to do so. The daughter of Bank On Greatness and Admirable was a scarily tough filly, tough enough to go against the colts right from the start. She was the princess of the juveniles, constantly strutting about and showing off her beautiful conformation as well as her fierce spirit. Empress coldly surveyed her domain, head jaunted arrogantly even as she let Krystal guide her motions. Krystal thought of the race ahead of her and knew that Empress would need every ounce of talent and heart that she possessed.
They were, of course, up against a field of solid colts, something that Empress had dealt with before. My Man O War, Saintly Touch, Jericho and Great Revenge - all fantastic horses, two of whom were unbeaten and were expected to take this race easily. Empress was somewhat of a long shot, being the lone filly in the field, but was there really a stronger classic dirt juvenile filly out there aside from her twin sister Meritorious? No, Empress could handle butting heads with the opposite sex just fine. So the race really came right down to tactics. Empress was cold and calculating during a race and played the part of a stalker. She was tactical, knowing exactly what buttons to push and what not to do almost instinctively. Racing was bred far back into her bloodlines. Empress was going to make her competition crack long before she did if Krystal Yhate had anything to say about it.
Their workout competition for today would really help them. Italian Ice, somewhat related to Empress through her sire, who was the full brother of Empress's sire, was their workout partner for today. The black mare had been....off lately. Something had not been right, and Valencia Andrews had been anxiously searching for what had made their relationship crack. Things just hadn't been working out for them. Luck had not been with them. She had stumbled over both turf and dirt, and the one thing Valencia could pin it to was running on the Green Horse Fields track. Italian Ice was a true Wire horse. She loved the Wire - it was where she had won the Canadian Triple Crown, showing a tough-as-nails attitude and an aptitude for both surfaces over the classic distance. She had it in her to make a comeback and win this race. Valencia's eyes burned with the love and loyalty she felt for Icee. She would not let the mare dearer to heart than anybody could ever know down.
The Wire Finish Cup Dirt had attracted yet another rock solid field. They were up against Silver Secret and Icee's half brother Born To Impress. It was going to take a return to form to help Icee out in this race - but she was hungry for it. Icee was not willing to let their climb to the top stop here and now. She and Icee raced in nothing but horse of the year selection races. They were constantly up against the best and that gave them an unbeatable edge. Not to mention, Valencia and Icee had a bond that Valencia only found equaled with Limited Edition. The competitive spirit and speed of Italian Ice, the constant ambition, fueled Valencia to greater heights and made them fantastic partners. It was a match made in heaven. Valencia thought of all of their past victories and felt her resolve tighten. It was time to go out and show the world that they meant business.
The workout was set - mile gallop, two furlong blowout. A classic. The two fillies, one chestnut and one black, blurred into motion going around the first turn. Italian Ice instantly took command. She was not going to hide in the shadows. Empress settled chilly on her outside, cold delight in her eyes as she got right to work on pushing Icee faster. But the four year old she raced against was no green juvenile, and there was no reaction. Still Empress sat, chill as ever as they raced into the backstretch. This was not going to be a fast race. Icee was just refusing to cave and accelerate. Empress snorted and Krystal decided to try a new tactic. She clicked once and Empress moved up immediately, the juvenile filly accelerating to be nose to nose with her rival.
It was now heating up. They poured into the stretch and it was on. Empress accelerated as Icee did. The two found each other game, and poured it on even more. Cold regality shone in Empress's gaze, pure fiery heart and unadulterated ambition in Icee. They hit the wire and it was Icee a quick half length in front. Triumph glittered in her gaze just as icy coldness froze the ground before Empress's feet. Valencia looked triumphant and Krystal quietly pleased as they exchanged smiles, wishes for well being and then scampered off to get their next mounts rolling.
