Post by Ripley on May 23, 2015 8:55:50 GMT -5
Threat Of War
featuring: Casualty Of War & Sun King
mission: Queen's Plate & the Red Mile Series
If the staff at Witch Creek looked a little less stressed than usual, it was because they were. The most stressful part of the entire year always seemed to be around the Triple Crown and Turf Triple Crown for Ripley, her riders and her horses. Saintly Touch was getting a well-deserved rest after running a tough campaign involving a fourth in the Derby, a win in the Preakness and a third in the Belmont Stakes. He'd done exactly what they needed him to do: Be the iron horse that he was bred to be.
Vagabond and Spotlight Pride would not get off as easy.
Pride had a main goal of whipping through the Green Mile series. Witch Creek had done well last year with Paranormal Hunter, but the Hall Of Fame mare had ended up there because her talent had been so versatile. Pride had always had the main goal of going to the Green Mile series. He was almost untouchable at the distance because his speed was just so potent with the right mixture of stamina over the course of a mile. He was the grass version of Sun King, the most prized colt on Ripley's three year old roster.
Ripley watched her prize of a horse as he walked up and down the shed row under tack. He looked phenomenal and had nearly outworked stablemate Saintly Touch prior to the Belmont Stakes. His muscles and hide gleamed with perfection, dappled to the nines. He was a gorgeous horse, the epitome of a Witch Creek homebred. His dam's wild eye gleamed at her as he passed. Ripley smiled, memories shifting through her brain. El Sol Del Mar had given her two of her best offspring in Mastermind and Sun King. The colts were so similar and yet so far apart. One was a legend and the other had the reputation to become one.
Not for the first time, Ripley wondered which of Sunny's babies would have proven best in a match. Would Mastermind with her aboard beaten Sun King with her boyfriend Brooks Wells aboard? Would Sun King's flashy stride have outrun Mastermind's witty and cunning brain? They could only be compared in record and so far King had the upper hand. Not even Mastermind had been able to run to ten victories as a juvenile, but King had had more opportunity. King had to live up to Mastermind's devastating win record at three and then four before they could even talk.
Privately, Ripley was certain Mastermind could have outrun the younger brother any day of the week. But few could outrun either of the chestnut horses.
Ripley turned away from the chestnut colt, swinging her gaze to the dazzling dark bay horse who marched poignantly beneath Justin Santiago. While Sun King and Saintly Touch had reaped the awards as juveniles and early three year olds, Ripley had not been so sure that they were truly the best in the barn. Casualty Of War had been a head turner from day one with his massive stride, his baroque body type, his condescending attitude. He'd grown so spectacularly in his time off since May. His third against older horses in June Week Three hadn't worried Ripley much.
He'd needed to lose a little weight and get back into the scheme of things. Like Sun King and Spotlight Pride, Casualty Of War had always been the horse going for the Canadian Triple Crown. He had proven plenty successful over the dirt, winning three dirt races since the beginning of January. His last victory had been over the turf, a reminder that he was just as effective over the grass as the dirt.
Perhaps her staff was more relaxed than Ripley. The next trio of series: the Red Mile, Green Mile and Canadian Triple Crown were the ones she was looking forward to the most. She'd experienced frustration after frustration in the CTC, coming up short at every race. This year she had the candidate to get her a victory in at least one. She was going to pull out all the stops to get there.
"All right, guys!" she called. "Get ready to go to the track!"
Justin circled Casualty Of War, tightened his grip on the horse and felt the flex of muscles. Here was power and class, thought Justin. This stunning, excellent specimen of a horse had never been a let down. Of the horses that Justin had ridden, Casualty Of War had always impressed him the most. The best always seemed to be ahead of him and now he was finally going to have a chance to live up to expectations. The muscular horse set off toward the track, neck bowed and body taunt with tension.
Sun King followed behind, slower and more arrogant. He knew Casualty Of War would have to wait for him if he wanted to start the workout. Brooks felt the confidence flow from the horse to the rider, the opposite of how it usually happened. King was the image of proud and fierce. His muscles rippled and he'd never looked better. He'd been held back in the workout versus Saint, but he would not hold back this time. He needed to be ready for the Red Mile Series and Casualty Of War would provide that ultimate test.
Ripley followed behind, walking calmly and analyzing each horses' swinging momentum. Both of them looked tremendous, drew the eyes of onlookers. They all said Ripley had never had a a better crop of colts and she had to agree. Every single one from Saint to Pride to Vagabond and these two had positive attributes that were incomparable to what she had before.
She reached the rail, watched the duo step through the gap and head in her direction. King bowed his neck and tossed his head furiously in frustration. Sultan danced, neck still bowed and knees lifted high. He strained against the bit.
"Five furlong workout! I want keyed up horses when you come back."
With that, the riders sent the colts into powerfully striding gallops. Sultan maintained a determined edge over Sun King, eyes flashing irritably at the chestnut colt. The Native Flame son stuck like a burr to the darker horse, his big body cruising over the ground without much effort. Ripley touched the binoculars that hung around her chest, smiled as each of the horses began to pick it up of their own accord around the first turn. No, she'd never had a better set of colts.
Casualty Of War flashed into his racing stride the moment he was given his head. He flew over the ground, big strides eating up the loamy soil. He dared Sun King to hang with him, dared him to keep up and surpass his early speed. Brooks rode confidently though and his horse would not be goaded into running with the front runner. King settled into his stride a length back, ears flicking on his head.
The horses continued that way down the backstretch and Casualty Of War got his breather. He settled into his big even stride, relaxing on the bit. Ripley smiled when his ears pricked up and knew Justin would have a ton of horse for when Sun King accosted him on the far turn. Sun King was absolutely going to accost him. Brooks sat still as a statue as the pair moved toward the turn. King's legs were under him and he was chomping on the bit to get going. Like Mastermind, King was learning the art of sit and stalk. He strolled over the dirt, well within striking range and waited for Brooks' command.
Ripley gritted her teeth. "Come on Brooks. Let him go already!"
Sultan whipped through the turn, ears shifting around and listening for Sun King. The dark horse was not a fool. He knew horses were always going to come to him, the result of being a front runner. But unlike other front runners, Sultan didn't just wave the flag in surrender. He enjoyed the challenged, enjoyed digging deep and toying with his competition.
She saw the change in the leader's body language before she saw the move on Sun King. Sultan slammed his ears to his head and kicked on, hooves digging deep in the dirt to gain purchase. Justin remained still, only tilting his head to get an eye-full of Sun King.
The grand chestnut colt loomed up threateningly on Sultan's outside, his ears still pricked and his strides growing in size. Ripley held her breath as they straightened into the homestretch. King looked full of it still. Sultan responded though, with more speed and more determination and more grit. She was so proud of them both and knew that word would get out on them before they got back to the barn.
Sun King and Sultan finished on even terms through the wire, but Sultan buried King in the gallop out. It wasn't because King was tired though. The horse knew where the wire was and there was simply no point in straining himself afterward. Ripley shook her head at the murmurings along the backside.
The reporters could think Sultan had outworked King, but she knew King would have beaten Sultan had he been asked. King was the best dirt colt she had, but it spoke volumes for Sultan and Saint's talent that they could run with him.
Ripley disappeared before the reporters descended on her, pondering her next move with the duo.
It was almost show time.
