battle this

[S u N f r O s T ~]

BATTLE WINGS AND KRYSTAL YHATE
ALUCARD AND HENNA TURATH
IMPRESSIONABLE AND KYLIE SILVERSTAR

BATTLE'S WORKOUT FOR EASY GOER RED MILE/HANDSOME MILE
ALU'S WORKOUT FOR EASY GOER RED MILE/TICK TOCK SPRINT

You are riding the hardest knocking filly in the barn right now Kylie Silverstar. The most determined, deadly, hard-trying one. Keep your hands light, your attention on her, and your respect will be returned. You are riding our entrant for the Breeders Cup Juvenile. Empress deserves nothing less. Krystal's words burned with fire, her eyes intense as she appraised both the chestnut form of the filly she usually rode and the position of her temporary jockey's hands on the reigns. Her eyes were lit with the fires of frustration following a week where the only highlight was Eternal Phantom's win in the Starry Night Stakes, and even that had been tough. But they had scored seven out of nine races this season in the winners' circle. El Sol Del Mar's foals really were tearing up the track this season. Krystal's eyes burned at the thought again, and she just had to turn away and focus on her own mount. But perhaps this had been a bad idea. Battle Wings was just as angry as Krystal felt, and it wasn't just a byproduct of her rider's own fury. Battle had lost last time out. Krystal thought the filly's fury should have been icing the loamy dirt by now. As it was, Battle moved with grim purpose and with sparks of fury in her eyes. Third and last was unacceptable. Battle was just as good as the colts and she would freaking prove it. Krystal snarled to herself, guided Battle out and over the track. The Easy Goer was at a mile, and so was the Handsome Mile. People would argue Battle wasn't good at that distance. Well, if that was true, how had she won the Acorn Stakes? Time to kill the doubters and prove themselves once more.

Kylie felt as though she was next to an open flame racing along an oil slick. Battle was a fire by herself, Krystal was a fire by herself, and combining them made them deadly. But she was riding indeed a tough filly. Empress has just scored the third win of her career in the tough July Juvenile Dirt Faceoff. Empress had been facing off against colts from the get go. She took no stops on her path to forcing them to lose. Empress was tough. She looked pretty, with her shining chestnut coat and gorgeous conformation and slim legs, but the determination in her eyes and class in her stride was unmistakable. It was certainly a learning experience for Kylie, should any other ridiculously blue blooded horses declare her the rider and prefer dirt. She memorized the feel of Empress's hooves sinking into the dirt and compared it to the turf. Dirt was softer, more slippery. Turf was firmer, and springy. But the sliding could aid in speed if the horse was good. Empress was definitely good, Kylie reflected. She grinned. Energy and life poured off of Empress, even as cold and furious ice vented off of Battle. They waited to be joined by just one horse.

Alucard, you are the champion of being a thorn in every horse's side. And mine. Henna's muttering rang with frustration. Second in the Boy's Party, second in the Star Party. Would it ever end? Alucard was game to the end in every race. He placed second consistently, so consistently that his real class was no longer reflected in his grade. Alucard was a top notch sprinter. He would hit another race in the Red Mile series in hopes of a better result and then the Tick Tock Sprint and remainder of the Triple Sprinter Crown. Alucard was typically cold and haughty and arrogant. Today, Henna actually picked up on another emotion - frustration. Nose, neck, one length losses at such a consistent basis and the colt was actually starting to go crazy. Henna thought she never would have seen the day. A smirk flitted across her face. Finally, a crack in your armor! Win next time out will you? And the three wins after that so we take the Crown too. Please please Alu. Her voice actually trailed off to a somewhat desperate whisper at the end. Henna always became deeply invested in her horses. She wanted success for them. Of course, no room for her whispers on the track. Krystal and Battle sized them up with a single glance that stank of cold fury. Krystal merely nodded before sending her horse out. Alucard responded with cold indifference and followed. He was shadowed closely by the juvenile Impressionable. Henna's eyes glanced over, admired the slim filly's motion at the gallop and shot Kylie a smirk. Her young apprentice was developing into a spectacular jockey.

Battle Wings would not take no for an answer today. She assumed a cold lead by a head. Empress settled alongside her, pressuring. Alucard took up the rear just behind. They made up a bunched pack of festering speed and desire and fury as they rounded the turn and took to the backstretch. The fury was all Battle; the determination was all Empress; the desire was all Alu. The combination was deadly. Positions did not change as they traveled. Battle kept a measured, calculated lead. This was her strength. Empress did not back down from the pace, but regulated herself. This was her own strength. Alu was coldly confident, coldly pressuring while managing himself. This was his strength. Every horse kept to it until they hit the final two furlongs of an SOPS classic workout. Then, all hell broke loose. Alucard accelerated with the beauty of a sprinter, overtaking Battle. But Battle had raced a mile by then, and was ready to return the challenge. But the stamina of Impressionable, who had raced up to twelve furlongs, could not be denied as she gamely kept pace with her elders. A beautiful picture was made as the three some crossed the wire. Alu on top by a slight whisker, Empress a game half length back and Amber at the track railing with a fierce grin on her face. Battle that, racing world. These three are ready to shake the foundations of your world.