Upped Dosage

[Cavallo]

UPPED DOSAGE
featuring Nightshade & Anodyne

Anodyne and Nightshade were out for blood and it was blatantly apparent as their riders had to finagle them from the ground. Atropa threw a venomous glare in Dye's direction and the bay colt was simply not about to take it lying down. He bared his teeth and Jeff felt the colt gathering his power to lunge, but he was quick to divert his attention, spinning him in a tight circle from the ground. It was common knowledge at Intrepid that these two racehorses did not mix. They were like oil and water and attempting to force them together would always create push back, but it was the kind of push back that made them better competitors and more lethal adversaries to their foes. Nick watched and waited as the two horses calmed enough for him to give instructions to their riders. The crowds ooohed and ahhed at the show the two put on and it was easy enough to admire the two thoroughbreds for their raw power and commanding presence. Their bodies glimmered and shown in fading sunlight. He'd wanted to wait for a time closer to evening, a time that would be less crowded, but it didn't appear that the press had caught the memo. He huffed as he shouldered past a clueless reporter that was dumb enough not to get out of his way, waving them off and refusing to answer any questions or to comment on the competition. He didn't have time to worry about the competition when his own horses deserved every bit of his attention. He was going to do everything within his power to do right by his horses and he knew they would do right by the Intrepid silks and name.

Nick gazed at the pair and motioned for the two riders to mount up and get on the track and to the rail for his instructions. Blake smiled at his charge. There weren't many people besides Nick and Michael that cold handle Nightshade, but Blake Hines, her groom, was one of those exceptions. He held the alert eyed filly at attention as Michael got the leg-up onto the black bay tempest. Michael settled in and felt the rippling power beneath him as Blake released the filly's head and sent her off with a smack on the rump. She snorted in protest, but looked the picture of a war charger as she moved in powerful collection, sensitive to her surroundings and Michael's touch. She was the picture of a racehorse of confidence and experience. Nightshade had won the last round against her rival the Dubai World Cup*, but if trend was to be anything to go by, then that meant ET would be winning the next round, but they were out to break that trend and finally show themselves as the new dirt empress.

Orrin held Dye's head as Jeff swung up on his own mount. The whites of his eyes shone as Anodyne pranced in place. It had been three and a half weeks since his last serious run and it was clearly apparent that he was in need of a serious run and that was just what he was going to get on Breeder's Cup day. Jeff's excitement grew as the time drew closer for their final season outing and he knew that Dye had more than a fair shot at taking the prize home. They were hungry and ready and it was all personal. They had a score to settle with Limited Edition. The chestnut colt had been a worthy foe this season, but now it was time to up the dosage in their competition. There was a BC title at stake and after their recent denial from this colt in the Invasor Stakes, they were planning on retribution. Dye had proven himself time and time again that he was more than lethal at twelve furlongs and had shown a versatility on surface that had defied all odds, but it was no secret that Dye was especially lethal over the dirt. He was primed, hungry and in his element and Jeff knew he and his charge would give the field the hardest run for their money because no one wanted it more than them and they were going to prove it.

"Sometime today Saunders...," Nick waved him over and Dye and Jeff were over on the track and a respectful distance from Nightshade withing seconds. "You are both marked threats in your races and we need to be sure that we live up to their expectations, but still have an element of surprise on our side. Nightshade is always more lethal after a loss. This being said we need to play her mentality into our favor for race day. So Michael hold her back. At the final I want her one to two lengths behind Dye. We need all of her fire to hold off an amped up ET. It will also leave the press here confused and underestimating. Which is just what we want. Saunders we need to take the edge off of Dye here, he looks like he could run two marathons at the moment and we don't want him snaking away with control on race day. So let him let off some steam, but don't let him go all out. We still want an element of surprise. That said, gallop them a mile and three going handily on the last three. okay?"

Jeff and Michael grimaced slightly at the instructions because there was nothing more strenuous than holding back a mount that wanted nothing more to go. Nick waved them on and Anodyne took point with Nightshade running in perfect tandem to her rival. Nick watched in expectation as the two thoroughbreds began their exercise with relish. It was easy to see the passion that both thoroughbreds took in their tasks of running. Jeff felt the simmering power traveling in a direct line from Dye's mouth to his hands. He played with the bit, but minded Jeff's instructions for the moment. Nightshade watched and moved with cold efficiency, she was taking everything in and Michael could feel her mind working as her body moved along with easy and simple power. Michael knew that this was not going to be a pleasant workout for the filly, but he would do what they needed to do in order to better increase their chances of success. Nightshade was a BC Juvenile winner and now she back in peak form to remind the racing industry that she was no one-hit wonder.

The mile went in easy fashion at 1:50:01, not slow, but not their fastest as Nick nodded in approval. It would be enough to take the edge off and as Anodyne and Nightshade roared to life for the final three he felt a good feeling within his gut. Jeff sent Dye flying and couldn't stop the grin that plastered his face when he felt the astonishing turn of foot. There was nothing Dye wanted more than to leave his competition in his wake. Jeff imagined Sweet Inferno, who'd bested them in the Donn Handicap and Limited Edition from the Invasor and he knew Dye was imagining them too as he flashed home with a vengeance. They had their competition's number and now they were giving them notice as Jeff and Dye pulled up and away from his foes and came home in power.

Michael felt Nightshade fight for her head in fury as Anodyne pulled up and away. He gradually increased her pace, but his arms ached with the power he was holding ay bay and oh was he feeling her fury. Her frustration was rolling off her in waves as she fought for her head, but Michael's will was iron and unbending as they finished a length behind Dye in roiling fury. Michael grimaced as he rated the filly, his arms damn near pulled out of socket as she danced along track with murder in her eyes, head tossed high as a sign of her rebellion and promise of retribution. Jeff slapped Dye's lightly lathered neck in praise. The bay colt's mind was in the right place, set on driving home his point of victory. Nick waved them both off the tracks. :38.78 wasn't a bad time for two thoroughbreds being held back. The competition had a real problem on their hands when he released their true power come race day.