Post by Ripley on Apr 23, 2015 13:10:04 GMT -5
All Encompassing
featuring: Lethal Dose & Nirvana
Brooks eyed Lethal Dose curiously. She stood tall between the cross-ties, ears pricked and eyes wide. Her gaze was one of intelligence and she looked absolutely fantastic. A pretty mare she was not. At least at first glance. Her muscles were sculpted beneath her glistening mocha chocolate hide. She looked the picture of racehorse. It was fitting that the gangly, rangy filly was finally becoming a force to reckon with. She'd hit grade two in the Banff National Derby, notching her second win in a row. Lee tended to do things in spurts. When the bay daughter of Lethal Knack was on, she seemed to ride a wave of hot-blooded confidence.
He knew Laura had never been more proud than when the filly crossed that finish line. Lethal Dose was not a Touch Up daughter, but she had to fight for every win just like them. It made her an exciting prospect to run at five and into retirement at six. He had never sat on the broad mare's back, but today he would.
Ripley had matched Lethal Dose against the lay-off combacker Nirvana. Laura's partnership with Lee was proving to be fruitful, but the blaze faced filly needed her more than the mare. The big races were coming up, particularly the sprints, and Nirvana was turning back. Ripley was convinced the filly wanted a cut back. The distance fillies were too much. She was convinced Nirvana's class had gotten her the third in the Mother Goose.
Hearing what the Gold Storm daughter was saying, Ripley called an audible and rested the filly instead of extending one more furlong to ten in the CCA Oaks. The new plan had worked.
Laura rubbed the cloth over the filly's eyes, drawing away dirt from her eyes. Nirvana's hide was dappled out. She looked phenomenal. The nearly grade two three year old had taken to her rest very well. Her return to racing was expected to come in July Week Two. A cut back and a rest were exactly what she had needed. Laura couldn't wait for her filly finally get a pace set up in the Triple Sprinter Tiara. Her closing kick had been muted in the longer distances, but she would get her chance to flaunt her late speed very soon.
Laura patted the filly's neck, blue eyes gleaming. "Ready to roll, sweetie?"
The filly sighed into the touch, relaxed as can be. She was an old soul, but on the track she proved to be the classiest of the bunch.
Ripley boosted Laura into the saddle, moved to Brooks and did the same. Lethal Dose shifted, ears flattening briefly. She wasn't sure about this new guy. Ripley held the mare's head, lead her from the barn while Nirvana followed quietly. Lee's eyes flashed once she caught sight of the track spread before her. Her hooves danced down the path in a quick uneven beat. Brooks appreciated the hotness, found himself right at home.
"Three furlong workout today. We're sharpening them up. Lee's got three more weeks til she hits the track in August, so this will take her edge off. Nirvana needs to feel some wind in her face. Plan on going :37."
Lethal Dose strolled onto the track, ears pricking and muscles bunching immediately. She could be such a hard head about working, but at least she wasn't lazy. Immediately, Brooks could sense that she ready to move. No wonder Laura and Ripley were so high on the boyish mare. She had an innate blue collar attitude with talent just waiting to explode. Brooks stood in the stirrups, allowed the bay to move from a jog to a controlled lope. Her big mule ears flickered over head before locking on Nirvana who moved to the inside.
Vana covered the ground powerfully, hooves pushing off with such strength Laura was almost blown away. She was coming back into form off of her break. It was about damn time. The filly deserved more than just a single win on the season. Laura kept Vana on par with her older rival, nudging her when she got a little behind. She always knew the difference between a race and a workout, always seemed to need a little more encouragement in these practice runs. Laura lightly tapped the filly's haunches, smirking when she picked it up at the reprimand.
Lee moved impressively into the bit upon asking up the backstretch. Brooks eased his way closer to her muscular neck, impressed by her physique. She wasn't a light weight this mare. He kept contact with her mouth, his blue eyes sharpening every time she begged for more rein. "Just one more pole, lady."
Laura knew Lee was going to be a handful for Vana. The bay mare was a freight train these days and had been strong ever since her grade two victory. The blaze faced filly galloped strongly as her stablemate was cued to pull away. She pulled on the bit, surprising Laura just a bit. It wasn't much like Vana to tug her way up to run with her workmate. Laura didn't stop her. She let the reins whistle through her gloved hands as Lethal Dose headed rapidly toward the turn. Vana's huge galloping stride swallowed the three lengths between them before the middle of the far turn.
Under a full head of steam, Vana swapped leads and assault Lethal Dose. Laura was quiet, still as a stone from shock and and from a need to not interfere. She didn't have to touch Vana. The muscular filly battled into the straight, finally making Lethal Dose take her seriously.
Lee was furious. Brooks could feel it as if she had personally told him she was mad. Her ears were flat, her eyes rimmed with red as she whipped over the dirt course with an unmatched fury. Brooks' blood sang as he realized what exactly Laura and Ripley were developing. A monster.
Lee gradually began to pull away, beating the earth in all her anger. Nirvana fought hard, hooves gaining more traction the longer they went. She re-rallied impressively under Laura, bolting up the rail as found another gear.
The pair barreled through the wire, not pulling up immediately on asking. Lee bared her teeth in disgust at Vana as she cantered on by. Brooks patted her neck, snickering to himself. "You may not be a nice filly, but I can admire that."
