planemo

[S u N f r O s T ~]

PLANEMO
Innocent Passion & Krystal Yhate - Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf Sprint
Demonic Desires & Amber Black - Breeders Cup Turf Sprint
a large planet or planetary body that does not orbit a star; wanders cold and alone through the cosmos

It was time, once more, to pass on the torch. Krystal wondered if she would ever get used to the feeling of letting one horse go and having another fill in the empty hoofsteps. Amber Black was a seasoned veteran, completely used to it. But Krystal...Krystal knew that she was becoming a pro at handling these emotions, but for some horses those feelings ran even deeper. Innocent Passion was one of those horses. This was a very special mare to her. Krystal had ridden her sire Passionate Class, personally training him out of his horrible temper into a fantastic racehorse. Anna was his first daughter, and she was special. Her dam was Hall Of Fame inductee Little Miss Innocent for starters, making her half to Hall Of Fame inductee Axis Mundae and her twin grade one Beltane among others. But Anna had taken everything her parents were and transcended it. The winner of twenty five races was dominated by a competitive spirit, was cunning in her tactics and an absolute perfectionist.

Yet perfection had not hit this mare. She had been overshadowed constantly by rival Cross My Heart. However, Anna had taken her revenge on that foe during the early half of the season. That was when Cross just couldn’t defeat Anna no matter how hard she tried. Anna was widely touted as the only horse able to truly keep up with Cross, and it was just about true. But for once, they would be avoiding their black rival in the Breeders Cup, the mare who had denied them both of their previous Breeders Cup races. No, for once Anna would be going to the Filly And Mare Turf Sprint without Cross shadowing her hoofsteps. She would face Silver Serendipity, Tears Of An Angel and Sugar Rush. After a near perfect season of firsts and seconds, Anna was not going to back down in this race. This was her third try for a Breeders Cup victory, her last shot before retirement. And Krystal knew that if one horse in the field deserved a Breeders Cup victory, it was her mare.

Amber Black wondered at what she called “the passing of the torch” as she saddled her own mount. Demonic Desires snorted, his typical arrogance burning in his eyes even as his body shifted and displayed his pure power for all to see. Demon was an out-of-this-world good racehorse. His parentage had initially marked him as so, and then his racing performance had proven it. Year Thirteen’s Best Two Year Old Colt had only gotten better. He’d stolen eight Horse of the Year races this season, but his best win by far had been in the City Of Laurel Stakes. He had beaten both Cross My Heart and Innocent Passion...and that had been significant. It was like his half-brother Mastermind’s victory in the King’s Bishop last season over Lynara’s Kingdom and Forbidden To Fly. The torch was being passed, and there was no fitter candidate.

They would be running in the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint. They were going to battle against Flying Solo, Cross My Heart and Manhattan Royalty. Demon was a stalker, meaning he would control the pace of the race. Cross would blaze in the lead, and Demon would let her, but he had already proven that he could run her down during the race he had faced her in. Amber felt confident in her mount but wary of the field. Anything could happen in a sprinting race. Breaking well and hitting all the right paces was key. And today’s workout would get both Demon and Anna ready to go. It would involve passing the torch in a symbolic way that hopefully the media would pick up on.

Amber met Krystal out on the track and smiled at the look in Krystal’s eyes. Saying good-bye to a horse was never easy. Understanding flitted in her gaze to Krystal, who drank it in thankfully. Krystal was saying bye to two powerful mounts this season. She needed the support. Their workout had already been discussed, so no words needed to be said. Demon took stock of his competitor and snorted confidently. Anna’s eyes burned with the desire to crush this competitor. She had been denied and denied and denied, nowhere else more than the Breeders Cup. A deep hunger to win burned in her. Demon practically gloated at her about his own success using his eyes and his demeanor, and Anna was all for putting this colt through his paces.

The two swung into action. Neither wanted the lead, as both were used to moderating the pace themselves. For about two furlongs, they coasted side by side, neither giving an inch. Demon showed off his strength with his easy, powerful strides. Anna responded with her cool confidence, speed flashing in her legs but carefully under control with Krystal in the irons. But at the beginning of the third furlong, Amber gave Demon the signal to go ahead. The workout split. Now Demon galloped ahead, a bit faster but not truly being allowed to run just yet. Anna snorted her displeasure and pulled at the reigns, but eventually disregarded her rival’s lead as just part of her usual morning run. Demon galloped ahead for all of a furlong before settling a good margin ahead for the fourth furlong. Soon, Anna would get her run. Krystal’s eyes focused on Demon, and once they hit the half she let Anna fly.

The bay thundered into the gallop as though she’d been born running. Wind knew no competition as she went for Demon as though her life depended on it. She would not be beaten by this black monster again. Krystal tasted her fury and determination and grinned. She let Anna go as fast as she wanted, as far as she wanted. She blitzed the track like the second coming of her dam, and there was no stopping the tidal wave of power that carried her in front of Demon within a furlong. But from there she just plowed onward, forging her own lead by open lengths, and by the time she was shut down at the six furlong pole she was just as far ahead as Demon had been.

But now it was Demon’s time to fly. Amber leaned forward and let Demon go as they hit furlong six. Anna was many lengths ahead of them and they needed to catch up. It was time to symbolically pass the torch. Anna had it, and they needed to run her down just as she had run them down to prove they were worthy of having it. Demon launched himself forward like a jet plane, all engines running as he bore down on his competitor. Amber knew true speed as she rode aboard this black colt and wished that all the world could experience it. She had known few others with this sort of pure speed. Demon ran down his opponent within a furlong, and then fought his way past. Anna had accelerated sharply, breaking through Krystal’s control, but the moment it was regained Demon easily took the lead and stormed away, opening up five lengths before he was shut down at the mile pole.

The torch had been passed. Amber and Krystal glanced at each other, the grins on their faces apparent. Krystal couldn’t help the urge to cry, but refused to let it show. Amber’s eyes softened. It was well known around the barn that Amber did cry aboard one of her special mounts when they retired. It would be okay for Krystal to cry too if she so wished. But Krystal shook her head and set her thoughts to positivity. This had been a fantastic workout, and if she got her wish Anna would finally be crowned a Breeders Cup champion. And if Amber got hers, Demon would prove he was second to nobody before next season rolled in.