wish for battle

[S u N f r O s T ~]

WISH UPON A STAR AND AMBER BLACK
BATTLE WINGS AND KRYSTAL YHATE

Amber Black breathed in the fresh air, a smile lighting up her face as her mount did the same. Wish Upon A Star gracefully walked forward, each step brimming with concealed power as she, too, enjoyed the fresh air. Muscles rippled along her lean frame as she approached the dirt track, and she seemed alert to every sight and sound. Amber smoothed a patch of unruly hair in Wish's mane and felt the four year old practically vibrate with happiness at the contact. Still grinning, her hand found its place on the side of her neck and gently stroked there as they continued on their way. They had definitely formed a strong bond as of late. Since Wish had come to SOPS, something within her had helped Amber master her own demons. Now they were one week off of grade one and going into the Euphoria Memorial Stakes next week. Amber tried to contain her excitement and failed. Wish could finally be ready to make the big time.

They were facing today the top Triple Tiara candidate of the season - Battle Wings, as of yet undefeated in Year Fourteen. Battle had raced hard for victory in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies and since then had never looked back. She had been absolutely hungry for every win that she claimed and the streak looked to not be stopping now. Battle was cold and tough. She was tall, intimidating and sought to be absolutely dominating in every race that she ran. There was no stopping Battle once a horse engaged in a battle of wills with her. Then it really was on. Krystal thoughtfully felt out the filly's future. The Triple Tiara awaited them, but first they had the Lecomte Stakes. It was a Triple Crown prep, but Battle had won mainly against the females all year and Amber had wanted to prove her against colts. It would look fantastically strong on her record if she won, and Krystal looked forward to the challenge. She knew Battle was tough enough to win against the males. They would prove it.

Wish and Battle met on the track, and instantly both were all focus. Wish was all business when she reached the track. Battle was all focus anyway, and the only perceivable change was the barely noticeable sharpening of her gaze, the sudden malice in her step. The Wire's dirt track was Battle's domain. This was where she excelled and had been winning at all year. But Wish was no stranger to this track either, and to be greeted with a challenge led to a welcome challenge back. Wish would not back down, and Amber's blood fired up with challenge as well as her mount's. Krystal smirked. Ready to go down Amber? Wish may be able to run forever, but you're facing one heck of a sharp horse right now. Amber smirked right back. She's due to fail any time now. Keep her sharp. We'll work a mile and race a quarter. Krystal nodded, and almost without her asking Battle Wings swung out to the track with the quickness of lightning.

Battle took the lead automatically, galloping easily down the stretch. Wish Upon A Star shadowed the younger horse, her own gallop easy and well conditioned. It didn't take a lot of instruction to get Wish going, and no encouragement was needed once they hit the track. Amber didn't move a muscle on her mare's back, and neither did Krystal. Their horses did it all on their own as they swept down the stretch. Battle stretched out as they hit the half mile pole, widening her lead a bit as her own speed filled her. Wish was content to remain waiting, though the sudden pooling of energy in her legs that Amber felt through the reins indicated her readiness to charge. It was all about the timing now - which of these speedy thoroughbreds would go off first? They continued to track each other's location into the stretch.

Then they hit the mile pole, and everything happened at once. Wish leaped forward with sudden ferocity, determination zipping through her legs as she closed the gap and bore down on Battle with astonishing speed. But Battle had developed a lot at this point. She was a machine of speed used to getting her way, and sometimes that required never backing down. Such was the case as Battle revved her engines and then accelerated sharply, bay legs blurring as she attempted to put her pursuer away. Wish was blown slightly by the young filly's sudden acceleration, but she was a senior racehorse for a reason. She responded, digging down and charging the gap once more, eyes bright and determined and Amber hunkered down over her neck, imploring the Everyday Hero daughter for as much as she could give. They hit the end of the workout barely a length back, with just not enough time to completely close the gap.

Arrogant satisfaction seeped through every pore of Battle's body for a mere moment before she snapped back to cold iciness and surveyed her domain. Krystal was smiling, but even she knew that it had been close. Wish worked best the longer the distance got. The four year old mare was only getting better. Krystal turned and slapped a quick high five with a similarly grinning Amber. They were both excited to keep raising the bar for their precious fillies. Things were only going to get better as the year continued.