Post by Ripley on Jan 6, 2015 22:03:57 GMT -5
Beat The Clock
featuring: Swing Dancer & Lady Timeah
Ripley pressed her hands to the small of her back, green eyes glinting from the kicking of the baby. The baby'd been kicking for weeks now and while she enjoyed the little tussle, it wasn't exactly pleasing during business. She couldn't be tough when the life she made was playing hopscotch inside of her. It just wasn't easy being that serious trainer when daydreams drifted into her head at the drop of a hat. Brooks walked up to Ripley, pressed his lips to her neck and smiled when she settled back into his arms. "Almost there, Ripley Marsh."
"Not soon enough for my liking. I can hardly concentrate." Ripley patted Brooks' hands, taking pleasure in the warmth of him. They had gotten much closer once they had gotten over their life choice differences. Some of those differences had settled into compromise and Ripley was free enough to truly focus on her life's mission. That mission was heading toward her at this very moment in the form of two fillies. One she had bred and one was a half-sister to a mare she'd trained. They were exciting prospects because both of them offered thrilling, versatile futures.
Lady Timeah, the Dragon as she had come to be known by, marched beneath Laura DeComte as though she was in command of the whole territory. Fog appeared from her nostrils due to the chilly spring air, emphasizing her fierce appearance. She looked nothing like Dirty Diana in color or head type. Her body type, however, was just like the now retired roan's. She was athletic with muscle that flowed so smoothly that you only took notice of the whole picture. Her body was still dark with lingering winter hair, though it shined from constant grooming. Her gaze was sharp and intense and betrayed her intelligence. She was a perfect fit Laura DeComte. Absolutely perfect.
Ripley's cat-green eyes flicked to Swing Dancer now, taking in the gray filly. Her hide glinted with dapples with sizes ranging from pennies to tea saucers. She looked like the bottom of a shimmering pool on a sunny day. Ripley had gotten a hold of Danny as a weanling and wasn't letting go anytime soon. Danny was the representative of a relatively untried female line, but her sire line held much promise. Popcorn Blitz had thrown a gorgeous trio of foals so far, Swing Dancer currently the only filly. Her body type was stout and muscular. She looked like a beast, more coltish than the elegantly built Lady Timeah. Her rear end screamed speed and her deep chest promised great air intake. Danny looked every inch the speed machine she was supposed to be.
Maggie tried to hide the pride she felt aboard Swing Dancer. She'd fought tooth and nail to not be the jockey of this horse and yet, here she sat. Ripley could cow anyone into a decision they didn't want to make. Now Maggie was supposed to suck it up because she'd found her next big horse after Paranormal Hunter. Swing Dancer, a daughter of Popcorn Blitz, a granddaughter of Hall of Fame Speed Demon and a cousin of sorts to future HOF monster Mastermind, had all of the makings of a champion. First, she had the bratty attitude. Second, she had the quick speed. Third, she had courage for ten horses. Maggie simply would not reveal how excited she was for this dappled gray filly.
Ripley smiled cockily as though she knew, but turned her gaze to Lady Timeahs' wraps and nodded. "She looks fantastic Laura. A beauty contest winner she is. Time to make her a racehorse the world won't forget." Ripley gave one last stroke to Timeah's satiny dark neck an nodded. "We have the gate this morning. They'll stand in them until the starters are satisfied and then you'll run. Only a three furlong workout please. Keep them straight and don't ask for their best. Just a practice run for the real thing in a week."
The fillies stepped out onto the track, snorting at the sight of the running horses. Timeah tossed her head, swishing her tail in protest when Laura turned her in the opposite direction and nudged her into a smooth trot. Swing Dancer kept up easily, head bobbing with her stride. Ripley and Brooks hopped into the golf cart manned by Justin and sped down the outside of the rail, Ripley always turned to keep an eye on her two year olds. Both of them moved like champs and neither seemed rattled by all of the activity. These were the two that could handle the raging activity of the backstretch. Both were outgoing and both had the brains to keep cool despite their hotness.
The gate workers shouted to one another as Ripley pulled up, joined moments later by the bay and gray. The head starter smiled, nodded. "Well howdy, Miss Marsh. We've been expecting your crew."
She patted his arm, "Treat 'em nicely as always. We'll be waiting in the homestretch."
He nodded, hollered for someone to snag Lady Timeah. The dark filly snorted in insult when one of them took a hold of her halter. The man chuckled. "Should I have asked permission first?" Laura snickered, patted Timeah's neck. "Maybe. She's the princess of the crew."
Seeing her horses were in good order, Ripley hopped back into the golf cart and drove off. Maggie patted Danny's neck as the filly danced in front of the gate. She packed power within her stout frame and the starter had a hard time hanging on to her. The Popcorn Blitz line was destined to be pushy. Popcorn Blitz had been a hearty handful and Danny was no different. Her thick body screamed toughness. Luckily, Danny wasn't aware of the advantage of her strength. The filly mouthed the bit as Timeah stepped into the gate, pretty as a picture. Maggie crooned to Danny as they were led forward. The filly released a snorty breath, but calmed after thirty seconds and joined Timeah in the gate with relative ease.
Timeah soaked in all of the pats from the starter surprising Laura. She wasn't one for human attention back home. But this was more on her terms than home which was more like bootcamp. Timeah was not nearly as kind on her home turf. The bay willingly backed out of the stall on command, walked away and stood calmly as Danny backed out more nervously. Maggie patted the filly, talking to her all the while. Both fillies went in once more, quicker than the first time. The starter called that they were good to go.
As one, Maggie and Laura braced themselves up on the fillies' necks. Timeah tensed, Danny coiled her bulky frame. Silence lingered, impressing the starters immensely. Usually the new ones acted up worse than this in the closed gates.
Humming the head starter broke the gates open and grinned. "And the next Witch Creek era is off to the races."
Timeah broke like she was shot out of a cannon, leaving a slightly stunned Danny in her wake. Maggie pushed the filly forward, not totally displeased with the slow break. Laura's breath whooshed out of her chest as Timeah tore over the track, legs flying over the dirt with relative ease. She was like a tornado at full mass. Laura finally managed to wriggle her fingers on the reins, brought the filly to an easier pace, but the beginning had caught more than a few eyes on clocker's corner. Laura barely had a moment to gather her wit when Swing Dancer was at Timeah's neck. She flashed a stunned glance at Maggie who was still as stone. The dappled gray filly had made rapid ground, demonstrating an early turn of foot that was unbelievably quick.
She pulled past Lady Timeah, got herself a three quarter lead by the second furlong and settled into her efficient stride. At the rail, Timeah followed Danny like a shadow, her ears pinned to her neck and her eyes burning. She didn't need the lead and she wasn't intimidated by this foe. She couldn't take Danny seriously after having been her bully for nearly a year. Timeah followed the curve of the rail into the homestretch, her stride lengthening once she hit the stretch. The dark bay filly eliminated Danny's lead and took it to the stout filly. Danny wasn't done though. She stayed level with Timeah down the lane, her ears pinning at the competition. Laura and Maggie remained quiet, their hands slightly restraining, but letting the fillies stride through the lane on their own terms. They had gotten plenty out of this workout for their first career starts.
Ripley remained quiet as the fillies finished on even terms through the wire and galloped out strongly for another furlong. "I can't find an argument with that, can you?"
"I wouldn't dare play devil's advocate to you," Brooks said. Ripley chuckled, but looped her arm through Brooks. She didn't reveal her pleasure with the workout. Those two had spoken up for themselves, shouted it practically. After a season of mostly juvenile colts, Witch Creek's fillies were about to make some serious noise.
