Here They Go.

[Cavallo]

Here They Go.
Featuring: Lilith Wind, Ultimate Revenge, Quick Silver, Doubloon Moon & Crimson Fatalis

Jeff had a busy weekend ahead of him, but it was teeming with potential and opportunity. He sat astride the chestnut filly that danced with energy and fire. It felt so right, so good to be back in the public scene with Lilith Wind. The Speed Demon filly had been barely containable with her private sessions at IRS, but she seemed almost satisfied as she looked over the track here at The Wire. He patted her neck as the massive crew from IRS began to fill in on the track. A powerful black colt broke onto the scene with Adele Floyd sitting astride his back. There were a few pictures snapped of this year's Belmont Stakes Winner. Adele ventured a backward glance at a wild-eyed Quick Silver. Estella sent Adele a shake of her head. She had volunteered to work the bay filly for Adele in this training session, but now she was starting to regret it as her hands began to ache, holding the juvenile in check. Mikhail was simply all confident smiles as she rode atop her small black filly. Doubloon Moon was the least bit intimidated despite her smaller stature and Levinsky admired that about her charge. Last, but not least a flashy chestnut stallion broke onto the scene. Some people thinks the diminutive Argentinean woman had a thing for Chestnuts and they would be right. She rode Crimson Fatalis with a look of glee as they both scouted the full track.

IRS was showing up in full force and it was enough to draw a crowd. Nick Landing smiled generally at the spectators, but his focus was on the herd of his horses on the tracks. Jaime was his shadow and ran interference with a few reporters, answering general questions and freeing Nick to keep moving. He grabbed the waiting reins that awaited him with an eager eyed Indian Darling waiting at the end. She cocked her left hind leg in posture to stomp her protest at waiting, but Nick ran a soothing hand along her neck and then mounting up in a fluid motion. The retired filly danced beneath him, she knew this track and knew this game and was eager to be back in the environment. He'd yet to fully plot the mare's breeding future, something he and Beth would need to confer about, but for now, she was a great track pony. He nudged the filly forward and broke in amongst the crowd. Lilith backed up and snorted violently at the bay mare's intrusion. Jeff steadied her with a touch as all eyes fixed on Nick and Indian Darling.

Nick took them all in with a gleam of pride in his eyes. These were his horses, his competitors and champions and he couldn't have been more proud of them and their progress and accomplishments, accomplishments they were looking to expand this weekend. "You guys are all looking good, listen closely so we can get going before your mounts break out into a riot on us." Everyone laughed at that, but heeded his commands none the less. "We have a huge work today. Jeff, you and Mikhail and Estella will work in tandem. Jeff push Lilith an extra furlong after pushing the juveniles for five. Angie, you and Adele will gallop the colts for a mile and home in three. I'll let you run them as they see fit, but if they flag, give them a little push. Everyone clear on the instructions?" Smiles and taunts were exchanged, but everyone nodded in the affirmative. Excitement bubbled in the air as the trio of dirt miler/sprinters took off.

Lilith was a force of nature as she took to the dirt. They were eager for the Starshine Sprint and more than that, they were eager to be on the warpath for grade one and a leg to the Triple Sprinter Tiara. Jeff felt her pulsing power, more than eager to gallop. Her younger companions seemed to share her flair, much to the three year old's disdain. Estella grimaced as she attempted to pace the bay daughter of Mr. Hat and Clogs. She was a spitfire, Stella would admit and her admiration for both Adele and Dana was growing exponentially. She quickly learned that fighting the filly would only have disastrous effects, but she minded her more subtle suggestions. Mikhail and Flit were flying on cloud nine, just happy to be running, the filly's energy contagious and overflowing. Jeff knew him and Lilith outclassed these two juveniles, but he was not about to go easy on them Nick said to push them and push them he would. He allowed Lilith to press pace and Dana and Flit followed for the next four furlongs. Estella and Dana were finally on the same page as they stalked the chestnut with Flit on their flank. They refused to be shaken.

Nick watched astride Darla waiting in the wings with a dancing Sith and Fin. The older mare nipped fiercely at Sith as he got a little nippy with her. He chuckled but his eyes were trained back on Lilith as she brought the juveniles home. Jeff offed the pace and Dana and Flit closed in. Mikhail and Estella both knew Jeff's game, but they pressed their fillies on and closed ranks around their older mentor. Dana was blinding fury and Flit was energized passion. They rallied for the finish, Dana edging on her wrath as she drew to Lilith's throat latch and Flit at the base of Lilith's neck. Nick hummed in appreciation as Mikahil and Estella brought up the juveniles and Lilith pressed on in a flash. Fury, revenge and need was reflected in the filly's every stride. She'd been badgered and denied all the first few months, but no more. She was out for blood, for revenge in the Starshine Sprint and Nick saw that she would not be denied.

Adele and Angie whistled as Jeff brought Lilith home. "She's hell on wheels Nick" Adele commented as Fin played up a bit beneath her. He nodded silently, mentally calculating the quick fractions Lilith has just done. "She'll be a bit of a surprise for the competition. You two though, get going. Fin has a date with the Risorgimento series and Sith here...he freaking needs his G1 win." Both women laughed, but a competitive gleam was already in their eyes. Sith, though a year older, still didn't outweigh the powerhouse three year old. Fin was built like a tank, but he moved with a fleetness of foot that was betraying his frame. They were an equally matched pair and Nick knew they'd be good for one another.

Angie and Sith galloped with Fin and Adele right by their side. The eight furlongs flew and Sith was in his prime at this range, but as they broke for home Angie had to press the four year old. Adele smiled astride Fin. Sith had been leading the whole eight furlongs and might have bested them if that had been all, but the extra three furlongs was a press of distance that Fin thrived in. They soared, inching up on the chestnut stallion and then swept past them by a neck for home.

Indian Darling danced underneath Nick, catching the contagious energy in the air. IRS was here in full force and they were ready to go. No more games and playing around, settling for second. This weekend IRS as a whole was out for blood and they would find their satisfaction.