Nighttime Runaway

[Ripley]

Nighttime Runaway
featuring: Nocturnal Runaway

"It means a lot to Ripley that you'd drive over here and work the filly out, David." Malcolm moved efficiently in the dark, hands moving deftly as he tightened leather straps and adjusted the light racing saddle on Nocturnal Runaway's back. The lean filly shook like a dog when the two men stepped back and gave her space. She had such a disgruntled look on her face that it could make anyone laugh out loud. The Night Stalker daughter was practically royalty in the breeding world. She wasn't used to being manhandled, but at least she wouldn't bite your head off over it. Her dark eyes shifted away from the men to scan her surroundings. The horses that were running at The Wire April Week One were resting quietly in their stalls. Most of them would do little more than jog the track with Kendall or Justin aboard. Reese and Maggie were still home, waiting for The Goodness to finally drop her Popcorn Blitz foal. Mizadori had also given birth last night to a beautiful chestnut filly. Ripley would be at the barn in an hour with Brooks and McAdams in tow. She wouldn't do much. She was really tired lately, being in the latter stages of her final trimester.

David shrugged and patted Noc's shoulder. "No worries. I've got a job to do and she's my horse. I'll do whatever needs to be done for her. She's my ticket to great things and I'm not going to fail her." Noc snorted when David leaped into the saddle from the ground, absorbed his weight as she had done every day he'd hopped aboard her. The filly tolerated the up and coming jockey like few others. Mal smiled at her, watched the dapples as the moonlight flickered over them. Pretty thing was Noc. She had five wins to her and had never looked better. She had a Horse Of The Year win under her belt and was going to have to let them know where exactly she wanted to go. Was she ready for the big gals in the Turf Tiara or not? She could go in the Triple Tiara if Nirvana didn't pan out in the Silverbulletday Stakes. It wasn't too far out of her realm. She was a talented filly and she could overcome a surface switch. It was well within her capabilities.

Malcolm led the ghostly filly toward the track, keeping a steady hand on her bridle. She let out a soft whinny that was answered by a stallion's whistle. Mal winced as the filly barreled into him, full of nervous energy. He shook the reins, jarring her backward and knocking some sense into that brain of hers. She could be such a fiendish animal. Shaking his head, Mal stepped through the gap and let the filly go. She danced sideways, tail floating elegantly behind her and let out another soft call for attention. Mal stepped back and called, "Just go five furlongs in 1:00. Don't put too much pressure on her to finish if she's not giving it to you. She should, but we're going to let her tell us what she wants to do."

David turned the filly loose on the moonlight dappled course. She skipped into a light jog, nose high and ears pricked. She was a terrific filly and she seemed to enjoy these early runs. Several of Witch Creek's super stars had never been morning glories, including the tremendous Paranormal Hunter. Noc was up before most everyone else though. She was always alert with her ears pricked and her eyes wide with excitement. She seemed to always say, "Let's go! Let's go!" She pulled him from his saddle midway up the homestretch and slipped into her gallop as easily as she pleased. David respected the filly and knew that if she was asking for her head already, today's workout was going to be something special.

Mal moved down the rail, ignoring the little groups of people that typically developed on raceday eve. Many were handicappers keeping tabs on horses racing the next day. His filly wasn't and he wasn't particularly interested in what they had to say about her. The silver lady danced over the dirt, picking up speed on the first turn as she was wont to do. Nocturnal Runaway could blow you away with minor shows of brilliance. She had that dizzying speed in her that she flashed in the morning and controlled in the afternoon. Mal leaned against the rail watching her take beautiful strides over the dirt. He hit the clock as she hit the first furlong pole.

The reins whistled through David's hands as she Nocturnal Runaway went from her cruising gallop to race horse speed. She tugged on the reins for more, but he didn't relent. She didn't need to go blazing fast a week out from her race in the Oaks Stakes. That would be the deciding factor as to where the silver horse would go. She had the talent to go against the big Tiara fillies. Her running style was enough to make David push for a run. She would have a jump on the closers and could move rapidly into a tiring pace. Noc was his vote, but she would also have to tangle with Taboo, another improving turf filly for Witch Creek. David crouched low as the filly shot through the first two furlongs. She was moving like a force into the turn and only gathering more steam.

The Night Stalker filly began to snort as she trucked through the turn, swapping leads so naturally that David had to look to make sure she had done so. Mal shook his head at the jock, "Stay in the seat, kid." David straightened, turned the filly down the stretch and let the reins fly through his fingers.

Mal winced as Noc surged beneath David. She was running fast by his eyes and according to his clock, she was moving impressively. He heard a couple people shuffle closer as Noc flew through the final furlong, legs still beneath her and moving easily. He snapped the watch closed after she passed through the final furlong. He'd no doubt hear about the time later. All that mattered was getting her back and cool. He couldn't help but notice how strongly her finishing gallop was. That was as good as it got. While the other clockers still had their watches on his filly, Mal slipped away and waited impatiently at the gap.

David was grinning when he brought her back. Her nostrils flared quickly and her saucer-wide eyes flickered over the gathered audience. She let out a whinny as Mal snapped a lead to her bit. "Yeah they saw you silver lady. They sure as heck saw you running her into the ground, David."

David glared at Mal from his position on the filly's back, let his legs dangle as she walked beneath him. "I didn't run her into the ground. She was going easily. I had more to ask if I wanted to."

"Well I'm glad you didn't because Ripley's brain is going to explode at that time you just clocked."

David rolled his eyes, "I remember a time or two when Marsh let Mastermind explode in his workouts. Speed likes speed, Floyd."

"That reasoning isn't going to work. If I were you I'd start thinking the worst, that way you won't be disappointed."

David shrugged, patted the filly on the other side of her neck. "She's a good filly."

Mal nodded. His ears were agreeing with David's statement. By the time they got back to the barn, Nocturnal Runaway was cooled out and breathing normal. Perhaps, she was a belated freak.