Post by S u N f r O s T ~ on May 8, 2014 16:48:08 GMT -5
INNOCENT PASSION AND KRYSTAL YHATE
PANDORA AND KYLIE SILVERSTAR
DEVIL'S FLAIR AND VALENCIA ANDREWS
PAN'S AND DEVIL'S WORKOUT FOR THE FOLLOW THE HOOFPRINTS SERIES
Kylie Silverstar sat in the saddle of this beautiful black filly and wondered how she had gotten so lucky. Pandora, the horse she rode, had been bred to be the greatest, had been proving to be fantastic...and was ridden by none other than a first-timer, a nobody. Kylie wondered just what had happened during weanling and yearling training that had attracted Pan so strongly to her. She couldn't explain it. Then again, nobody could explain Pan either. The filly was characterized by curiosity, beauty and bravery. She was also ridiculously fast. Kylie, being inexperienced, would have expected to have had more difficulty in riding Pant o success, but she had not, save for the East View Stakes. Pan and her had never stepped out of Horse of the Year company, yet they had pulled off three wins and impressive placings otherwise. The East View was the lone exception. Pan was an unbreakable puzzle on the track, a horse within a set riding style. Kylie had known so little when she had first started riding Pan, and now she knew a little more. With time, there could always be others. Kylie hoped to continue being an apprentice jockey - she knew she would definitely have Pan for three years. Perhaps others would come along as well.
Pan's head snaked around her side, and she snorted. Kylie looked over and saw Devil's Flair, Pan's worst rival so far, and a smirking Valencia Andrews in the saddle. Devil's Flair looked brilliant. His chestnut coat gleamed in the sunlight; his muscles rippled with the strength of a hundred horses. Devil was typically a flirt, but with Pan he had learned to take his female competition seriously too. There was no enchanting whinny from Devil to Pan - instead, there was a sudden hot fire in his eyes and deadly promise in his step. The hot blood of Augusto ran through this colt's veins, and it showed as he appraised his rival. Valencia drank it all in, grinning cheerily at Kylie, the picture of confidence. Devil and Pan had both grown to be fantastic turfers already, and their careers were only getting started. It was fantastic to have such strong horses on the juvenile roster. It meant a brighter future for SOPS.
They were finally joined by Innocent Passion and Krystal Yhate. Anna was beautifully bred herself, and a fantastic turfer. She had been running a fantastic final season, with strong performances in every race. The goal for the Breeders Cup was to have Cross My Heart eating their turf in whatever race they were entered in. As it was, Anna was going for the Turf Sprint, and rumor had it Cross was going for the Turf Mile. If that were the case...Anna may not have her revenge. This made every race count. Anna would have to rise. She had been denied a Breeders Cup win twice by Cross. Things had gotten too far, and Krystal wanted nothing more than the defeat of the other filly by the end of the season. A satisfying conclusion was all that she was looking for.
The three horses met up and sized each other up. As an older horse, Anna had the edge, and being a sprinter was a help too. They continued to size each other up, challenge one another as they began to track into the backstretch. They had started the workout almost without realizing it, each fed by the fires of their own innate passion as they got after each other. Their riders stuck close to the horses as they duked it out. Devil's Flair crowded the horses in his trademark style, bearing down from the outside. Pandora skillfully sped, leaving Anna to face the brunt of Devil's assault. Pan was just so used to Devil's tactics. Anna's seniority insured she wasn't too fazed by the assault, though. The bay mare relaxed and resumed the regular routine as they hooked into the stretch. Pandora had now taken the lead, and she confidently led as though it was something she did in every race.
Kylie remained relaxed even as Devil ghosted up on their outside and Anna nudged her way to the rail. Staying calm would get her places. She waited for the stretch and when it came and the other two made their moves Pan and Kylie were ready. The partners shot off, extending their lead. Anna rebroke, flashing some of her sprinter temperament as she flew up to Pan's shoulder. Pan resembled a certain other black filly...and suddenly Anna was not holding back. The bay mare left them all behind as she rolled to the finish. Devil's Flair came up now, trying to catch onto Pan's weakness, but Pan was not having it. They crossed nose to nose. Anna was still galloping strongly, pleased with her efforts, but the juveniles had lost nothing in defeat. They eyed each other with intent as they slowed. All in all...they were ready to go.
