Post by Ripley on Apr 23, 2015 13:11:23 GMT -5
Who We Are
featuring: Miss Josephine & Nocturnal Runaway
David Carter ran his hands over the filly's body, eyes glowing with pride. She had recovered so well from her attempt at the Turf Tiara. They had skipped out after a wonderful second place in the Cotillion Stakes, had only watched as Impress The Moonlight clawed her way to victory in the Duchess Stakes for her eleventh victory and a sweep of the Turf Triple Tiara. David knew that Nocturnal Runaway would have given them a fight, but she wasn't ready for the creme de la creme. Maybe next season when she had more experience, more confidence. Noc needed a good confidence builder, a reminder of who and what she was.
Her half-brother, Optimus Unstoppable, was just seemingly hitting his stride now at the age of four. Noc was on the same wavelength it seemed. A talented young horse who had the potential to bloom late. Her silver dappled body was still developing. Her eyes were seemingly sharper, more understanding. Her gallops and workouts continued to impress David. She was morphing into something bigger than he'd expected. David stroked the filly's neck, priding in her beautiful appearance. She reached around, rubbed her lips over his arms. She was one of his favorites. The feeling was apparently mutual.
Miss Josephine snorted and Maggie chuckled, "Sickening, isn't it?". The strong daughter of Passionate Class rolled her eyes coincidentally, tapping her way to the end of the lead rope. With the Devil's Hourglass retired, Josey was stepping into the female distaffer position. Prima Donna had returned for a brief stay as well and together, the bay mares were going to lead the charge. "Here we are trying to become champions and those two are in the middle of a love affair. Focus, focus, focus."
David sent a mock irritated look in Maggie's direction, but did give Noc one last past. "Just waiting for Brooks to make an appearance. Ripley went home. Keller the Terror is being extra terrifying today."
"That he is," Brooks chuckled as he stepped around the corner, towing a disgruntled Ashanti. The lean horse flashed an irritated glance in Miss Josephine's direction, but didn't act on the veiled threat. Brooks patted the mare's neck. "Sorry I hadn't realized Ripley was waiting for me with Ashanti before she left."
"Fast workout today around the dogs. Ripley wants 1:01. They'll stay together most likely because of their running styles. Expect them to be flying at the end because of it."
The riders mounted up using a block, tucked their feet into the stirrups and let the pair follow Ashanti toward the track. Miss Josephine looked around, confidence pouring out from her. She'd become very used to The Wire since the beginning of the season. Three out of her four wins on the season had come over the track. She was beginning to bloom and become the expected champion Akita Rose Stables and Stride Of Perfection Stables had planned for. Maggie knew Ripley was planning a similar path as Whipped Cream had taken in her season with them. The two were very similar types. Aggressive, fierce on the track, and bullheaded. If Miss Josephine was stuck in a bind, Maggie knew the mare would not just give up. She would launch at the tiniest opening and knock competition out of the way. Long term plans called for the mare to enter the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf. Maggie hoped she was prepared.
Noc skittered down the path as the wind blew hay in front of her. Her eyes went wide as saucers and she let loose a frightened snort. David patted her neck, crooned to her to settle her down. "Relax, Noc. You're a Night Stalker daughter. Hay isn't supposed to terrify you, you are supposed to terrify it."
Brooks circled Ashanti around, placed her right alongside Noc. The silver filly let out a soft breath of relief, even turned to rest her nose on the bay mare's withers. Brooks smiled, "You're too pathetic, Noc."
The horses stepped onto the dirt track, gathering some watchful eyes. Two clockers picked up the pair as they moved away from Ashanti. The lean thoroughbred mare snorted, tossing her head as they took off at a trot and left her behind. Brooks held her steady, kept his blue jean eyes watchful on the bay and gray horses. They had clear room to move through the gap to the turf track and took advantage quite quickly.
Miss Josephine bulked up beneath Maggie immediately, tucking her chin to her chest and thrashing her legs over the grass. She swung her butt from side to side, pinning her ears when Noc didn't move away fast enough. The younger filly skipped off, ears moving wildly about on her head. David could feel that she was a little erratic. Noc liked consistency and Miss Josephine tested that with all her temper and moodiness. Once Noc was in her stride, she relaxed and let him take a good hold over her as they skipped to the rail. He grinned as she picked up the pace, focused to a T.
Miss Josephine rolled up alongside her younger counterpart without much encouragement from Maggie. Her big body pulsed with energy. Each stride she took was huge and powerful, like riding on a rocket. Maggie crouched lower on the mare's neck, resting her hands on the mare's crest. Miss Josephine had gone from low self-esteem to a monster in the course of months. She'd gotten a taste of winning and now she craved more. Maggie was impressed when the big mare cruised up to engage Nocturnal Runaway before the far turn. It wasn't her usual style.
It wasn't Noc's usual style to engage in a challenge immediately before the turn. Usually she dropped back, letting the enemy tire herself out before the stretch. Not today. Today, the silver filly pinned her ears and reacted with such a swift kick of speed that David was almost tossed over her pretty butt. He clung to her wild mane, eyes flying wide when she turned it on in response to his loss of control. Momentarily stunned, Josephine and Maggie fell back before Josephine became insulted and kicked it up a notch.
David may as well have been riding a wild horse for all the attention she showed him heading into the homestretch. Noc flew over the course, feeling as thought she wasn't even touching down to earth. Each stride was a measure of brilliance and beauty. She stunned the people watching on the rail, clockers and Brooks included. She was supposed to be the one being buried, not the other way around.
Maggie tossed the reins, knowing a lost cause when she saw it. David had lost control of his mount, but she hadn't lost Miss Josephine. Josey swallowed the ground with impressive strides, not closing ground, but no longer losing any to her freak of a stablemate. Maggie wondered what the time would be for Noc as Miss Josephine hit the wire in a strong cruising stride.
David held his breath until he knocked the bit out from between Noc's teeth. The silver filly let out a sigh, flashing that nonchalance that had been breaking through in her gallops. He hadn't expected her to take off, but he hadn't expected that sudden flash of speed. She'd been absolutely brilliant in her gallops since the Cotillion. He let out a harsh breath when she glided into an elegant trot and politely turned around to face Miss Josephine.
"He'll understand, David. It happens to everyone."
David shook his head at Maggie's words. He'd pay for letting the lithe filly run, but he didn't regret it. She may have just flashed so much talent that it had stolen his words from him. Now he knew she could really run.
Brooks trotted Ashanti up to Nocturnal Runaway and Miss Josephine, eyes analyzing the pair. "That was an excellent workout Maggie. Go ahead and cool her off, get her wet."
Maggie winced at Brooks' tone, aimed a sympathetic look in David's direction, but trotted Miss Josephine off the track quickly. She didn't need to hear the lashing.
David waited silently, listened to his filly play with the bit. She was hardly breathing hard.
"I should be furious with you, but I can't really fault you. I can't find fault in her either. I'll be honest that was a scary workout for me, but she was brilliant. And now she isn't even breathing hard..."
David cast a surprised glance out of the corner of his eye. "I told you she was a freak."
Brooks mulled it over, shaking his head. "I think they pulled a :59 2/5 out of her. Maggie wasn't aiming to keep up with you and hit 1:01 like I asked. I almost wish she'd asked, but we won't tell Ripley that. The good news is, your filly saved your ass because she finished as strongly as she started. That isn't something Ripley will be able to ignore."
"Thank God for that," David said with a grimace.
