The Witch's Pride

[Ripley]

The Witch's Pride
featuring: Spotlight Pride, Vagabond & Queen's Honesty

Ripley Marsh leaned against the railing, eyes sweeping over the flat turf track. The turns were tighter than the ones at Green Horse Fields, but her type of animal seemed to appreciate that more. The quicker turns made her bunch more aggressive, more fierce. Her type were able to use their ferocious speed to their own advantage. She was glad to be at The Wire for the Breeders' Cup. She wasn't bringing as strong of a bunch as she had in her record breaking BC last year, but the home field advantage could not be stressed enough.

The constant buzz and clicks of the reporters changed slightly, joined by excited voices. Alerted, Ripley straightened, unconsciously placing a hand on her swelling belly. Two more rides and she was done forever. Sadness tinged her gaze, but drifted away at the approach of three young horses.

Spotlight Pride glowed like a living flame as he stepped from shadow into sun. The ruby red chestnut looked like an ancient sculpture, with his primitive head and his lean form. It was only his second public appearance in a month and he could not have looked any better. The press seemed to agree, as more than a couple cameras followed the flighty animal out onto the turf course. Reese looked proud aboard the DeathFlash's Pride colt and Ripley would not have traded places with anyone going into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

Vagabond and Queen's Honesty stepped onto the track. Vagabond was well known for he had raced constantly this season and kept placing in the top of his class. He was still maturing and not quite ready to join Pride in the Juvi Turf. Maggie did not seem to care, her legs hugged the barrel of the bay colt. The Winged Heir horse looked confident and at ease, far different from Pride and Queen. He just had an air of knowing. He stopped in front of Ripley, turning his wise eyes to the track. His ears pricked and he mouthed the bit, but he did not budge an inch after that.

Queen's Honesty, a relation to Whipped Cream and Flawed Princess, was the least experienced and the least well known of Ripley's current trio. Her sharp gaze pierced through the reporters and she seemed to draw their attention. Her coltish body reminded them of Whipped Cream for she was as burly as that one, but not quite so tall. Her upside down exclamation mark seemed to emphasize her defiant look. Her white rimmed eyes completed the appearance of athleticism and ferocity. She was a very promising individual and Ripley expected her to more than hold her own against the colts.

Ripley nodded to her riders, walked away from the press and went back to her position at the rail. The riders cued their horses into stiff jogs to prepare for the final workout of the season. Tension filled each rider. They just needed to get through this last ride safe and sound. Ripley's voice rang in the headsets, "Four furlongs, breezing. Gallop them up to it at a stiff gallop. Do not let them rush headlong like fools, Reese and Laura."

Laura flipped Ripley a sarcastic okay sign, but she was smiling from her position aboard Queen. The stout bay filly was playing over the course, ears pricked and stride effortless. Queen reminded Laura a lot of her cousin. The same defiant attitude and the same physical prowess rolled into an athletic body. Laura kept the reins taut at the filly's neck, drawing the filly's focus. Queen leaned on the bit heavily, but she did not go quicker than Laura wanted to.

Maggie watched patiently as Spotlight Pride and Queen's Honesty marched to the lead as expected. Vagabond lingered, gathering himself and his stride. He was not quite so quick on his feet, but once in full flight the Winged Heir colt could run anything down. Maggie leaned close, let the reins fly through her hands as Bond bounded into his galloping stride, though he stayed three lengths behind the leading pair.

Pride was so on the muscle that Reese's hands burned in her gloves. The chestnut colt loved routine and this workout was breaking that routine. She leaned close to the colt's neck, taking deep breaths and trying to ignore the outside pressure of Queen. This workout simulated the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf where Pride would be pressured from start to finish. Pride was mentally learning to handle the pressure, growing into his brain. Reese knew last workout had done a world of good for the lean animal. He'd faced down his worst bully and had a world of speed left at the end. Reese relaxed, taking breaths to the beat of Pride's long strides.

Ripley hummed when she saw the trio settle into their most relaxed strides. Brooks joined her at the rail, nodding in approval at the sight. "Sure look good out there."

"That they do."

Pride lead the way into the breeze, legs stretching to meet the new speed. Queen kept up, ears pinning when the red colt pulled away. She dug in, hoofbeats becoming thunderous over the firm turf. She was a model of grit and on the turn found herself in her element. Pride's longer frame carried him wide, pushing the Truth Be Told filly into the middle of the course. Her eyes blazed in discontent and anger, bolstering her determination to knock the fleet runner down a peg.

Pride was running for the fun of it now. He had no interest in getting into a war with Queen. Reese smiled as the colt leaped into the stretch like a tiger. She glanced under her left arm and the smile disappeared. One furlong left and Pride had Queen measured. He did not have the measure of Vagabond though.

Maggie was cackling in her head as her Michael Jordan surged up the rail impressively. His massive stride swallowed the earth separating him from Pride and Queen. There was no denying his full blown physicality. Even when Reese expertly drew Pride down to the rail to meet Bond, Bond did not shirk in fright. He muscled his way through the opening, pinning Pride between Queen and his heavier frame. Reese gritted her teeth, throwing her hands down and giving Pride his head. The chestnut held sway, filling Reese's heart with love for him. Gosh he'd grown so well over the year. With a burst of finality, Pride quickened to win the battle at the wire.

Vagabond finished a neck behind with Queen holding her own, falling only a half-length short. The trio galloped out strongly into the final turn, Bond getting the measure of Pride there. Queen was slightly tired from being forced wide, but her effort had been impressive nonetheless. She had a couple days to recover before her next start and would be firing on all cylinders.

The reporters' cameras started clicking once again as the trio returned. All held their heads high and none breathed heavily. While their overall appearance impressed the reporters, Ripley was more happy with the fact that they weren't blowing. She hadn't expected them to though. Their toughness and experience had prepared them well for the final starts of their two year old seasons.