Post by S u N f r O s T ~ on Jun 25, 2014 21:23:16 GMT -5
IN THE SPOTLIGHT AND VALENCIA ANDREWS
FLEET MAJESTY AND KYLIE SILVERSTAR
ODE TO GLORY AND KRYSTAL YHATE
VENTURA AND AMBER BLACK
INNIE'S WORKOUT FOR SEASHELL CUP GRADE TWO/LURE GREEN MILE
MAGE'S & ODE'S WORKOUT FOR ARLINGTON MILLION
VEN'S WORKOUT FOR SEASHELL CUP GRADE ONE TURF SPRINT
This was going to be a fun workout. Amber could feel the smile curving around her face as she guided Ventura of all horses onto the turf track. The miler specialist mare was usually sighted on the dirt, but she had finally been thrown into a turf race out of nothing shorter than sheer frustration. There just hadn't been any real races to throw Ventura into all season! She had been easily beating the fields she had been set against, winning six of nine starts this season, and was currently one for one over the turf. Things had been getting desperate. The black daughter of Impressario and Rising Fury had been begging for competition, craving it. This workout would helped fuel the fire that had been this annoyed black mare. She was dying to run. Ventura had become a seven, eight furlong specialist in the barn ranks. She held her strongest there, though was capable of going up to ten furlongs. Six furlongs could be in the cards soon if Amber ever got her down there. Amber grinned, surveyed the three horses alongside them.
In The Spotlight easily kept pace with Ventura's predatory strides. The chestnut winner of the Duchess Stakes was facing a stiff test in the Seashell Cup Grade Two against The Devil's Hourglass and Passionate Flyer. What worked in her favor was that the race was at ten furlongs, the same distance as the Duchess Stakes, and Innie was crazily on form. She was rising through the ranks. Behind Innie, Fleet Majesty and Ode To Glory dogged the steps of their younger counterparts. The energetic Mage was piloted by Kylie Silverstar. Kylie was easy on the reins as she guided the gray mare onto the turf. Mage often acted like a younger horse. She had been building towards cracking purely into the big ranks all season. The Arlington Million would be the first step along the path. It would be the first step for Ode, too. He had been facing a truly tough season, and Krystal Yhate had worked herself to the bone this month in getting him ready. In fact, Amber had even told Krystal to back off slightly and let Ode alone. Krystal had backed off slightly, but continued to work the stallion hard. Retirement was in the cards if he didn't pick it up, and Krystal knew it. No grade one racehorse stayed in the ranks unless they could make a difference these days.
The four thoroughbreds ghosted each other's steps as they finally accelerated to a gallop. Ventura dropped back, chilly and cool, to let three year old Innie take the lead. The youngster of the group grabbed up the lead, lightning fast as she raced for it. Ventura was all about patient calm as she waited for Innie to either fizzle or capitulate to her own closing charge. Mage happily took up the rear with Ode still alongside. The two stablemates worked together, sticking it through the furlongs, biding their time. The contrasts between them were felt. Ventura was a deadly machine powered by fury, eyes glinting with the desire to savage her competition should there be a loss in the cards. Innie was all energetic naivete, happy to be in the spotlight. Mage was similarly energetic. Kylie found her an easy horse to ride, responsive and willing at any moment. Ode was quietly obedient. Krystal felt stirring in the depths a competitive fire, like the one that had shown out when he had won the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf. Here was a horse ready to surprise the racing world once more.
The four of them wheeled around the final turn, and then it was the final charge. Ventura was deadly. She accelerated before any of the others, and the power in her turn of foot was massive. It was reminiscent of the way she had demolished the field in the Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. Amber Black merely hung on as the daughter of Rising Fury charged past Innie, the turf not holding her back in any way. She was too focused on winning to care what surface she was running on. Ventura was a deadly machine, and none could keep pace with her focus and hunger. Ventura snorted arrogantly, unsurprised by the lack of competition, but then snorted in shock as a gray form flitted to her side. It was Fleet Majesty. Kylie had figured out the mare, was urging her on, and Mage responded to her soft hands. Amber Black frowned. Kylie had a way with horses that Amber rode which really unsettled her. Anger settled in her stomach. She would not let this upstart take her on.
But they were joined now by Ode To Glory, willing to die now to get his rider's wish of the win. Krystal urged him on as Innie joined him on the outside. Innie was working to wrench her lead back from the jaws of defeat. She was steady and strong and not willing to give up. In a line of four, the SOPS horses charged for the lead. Ventura suddenly pushed forward, as did Ode, claiming the top two spots, with the other two mere whiskers behind. The influx of speed left the four riders breathless. Henna, from the rail, was smiling in approval, always around for the speed. These four were ready to go and lay claim to the world that awaited them.
