Post by Ripley on Aug 7, 2015 14:18:43 GMT -5
battle hardened
featuring: Notorious & In Front & Divided Notion
mission: Golden Slipper Stakes & Kiss Your Title Stakes & Cox Plate
"We're really going to be switching things up with this crew," Ripley commented as she tightened the girth on Divided Notion. The 16.1 hand horse gave her a look as though he couldn't believe her nerve. She patted his big dappled out rump and smiled. "Don't you give me that look Demi." The horse snorted and cocked a hoof, ever the professional. "You have to wear a girth if you want to prep for the Cox Plate. That's just how it is."
"I can't believe you want to go up against Abastor," Brooks said as he led In Front by. The towering stallion powered alongside the human, looking every inch the mature animal he was. At 17.3 hands, In Front was the largest on the roster and he was ready to start living up to his name. He'd be running in the Kiss Your Title Stakes, the dirt counterpart to the Cox Plate. October Week Two had been awful for the barn, but both of these ones would attempt to turn it around.
"Yes, we're going up against Abastor and Handsome Tabby and whatever other horse wants to show up," Ripley replied as she marched over to Notorious. She looked at the greyhound colt for a long moment, falling in love with him all over again. When she saw Notorious she saw Like A Cheetah and she saw Acantha, two horses she greatly respected. This sleek bay colt was going to be her next big one, she could feel it. While WCS had become synonymous with top milers and sprinter, Ripley was determined to get back in the ring for the Turf Triple Crown. She wanted to win the distance series more than anything else.
Ripley nodded for David to come over to her and she boosted the guy into Notorious's saddle. The Like A Cheetah colt danced beneath his rider, flashing teeth and pinning his ears. Ripley walked away, ignoring the show. Note was the most cantankerous horse she'd had the honor to meet, but he'd stopped scaring her a long time ago. He was considerably better behaved than the lively horse he'd been at the start of Year Fiftten. Ripley boosted Brooks onto In Front, holding the powerful Touch Up son still. He threw his blocky head and analyzed her for a long moment before he stepped away toward the track.
"Justin!" Ripley shouted. "Come here, Justin!" Demi pricked her ears in the direction Ripley was looking. The sturdy stallion let out a low nicker of greeting when Justin appeared from the office. He was toweling his chocolate skin off, removing the sweat that'd gathered in a previous workout. Ripley in greeting. Justin paused, eyed the empty saddle. "You want me to get on him?"
"Why yes I do," Ripley responded with a smile. "He is riderless after all and, for the moment, you are horseless." Justin sighed, but flashed her a grin on his way to pick up his helmet. He snapped the synthetic helmet strap together underneath his chin and nodded to Ripley. "Alright. I'm ready to face off with the giant and the string bean."
Ripley laughed and glanced back at Notorious. The bay horse was tap dancing over the ground, head tucked to his chest and looking more studdish than Divided Notion and In Front combined. "That's man-eating string bean to you, Justin,"
The group moved quickly toward the track. Ripley held tight to Notorious's bridle. The Like A Cheetah colt was super strong and definitely on his toes. She hadn't seen him this fired up in a long time. His hooves churned up the ground menacingly and his nostrils flared as he took in the scents of the backstretch. While eyes would automatically be drawn to the chrome marked horses, Note was quite the looker himself, string bean comments aside.
He powered onto the dirt track, bobbing his head in an attempt to shake off Ripley. She let go and nodded to David. The rider knew how to get along with the lean bay monster. She was grateful for that and grateful that there was someone Notorious respected. Ripley fell back as In Front and Divided Notion jogged by her and took after Notorious. In Front pounded the ground and bowed his neck. He looked the image of his sire and definitely ready to assume his place in Witch Creek's stud roster. The time would come at the end of the year for him to retire, but he still had prisoners to take on the track.
Divided Notion was the first to cross through the gap and onto the turf track. The FS Dead Letter son may not have the size or the attitude, but Demi was quietly making himself known. He'd won two Horse of The Year races and was riding a high like few others in the barn. Ripley was certain that now was the time to take on Abastor and Handsome Tabby. Now, was the time to strike them while Demi was hot.
She watched the horses warm up, liking how each horse moved with authority. Notorious kept the lead until the older two slipped into gallops. He wasn't a forward moving horse until the latter stages of the work. She wouldn't be surprised if Note didn't finish with In Front and Demi. He'd still get his workout, but his type was to work on his own and finish good. It'd worked all season for him. She wasn't about to change it now.
Brooks nodded to Justin who asked Demi to speed up at the first furlong pole. Divided Notion was more than willing and he assumed command for the five furlong workout. Demi was a strong runner with a very efficient stride. Justin was pretty impressed with the animal. He'd been on him for a couple gallops, but nothing more. While In Front ran long and low, stretching out those long legs for all they were worth, Demi ran proudly and with his ears pricked. His effortless movement was deceiving. Justin settled for the ride, content with how his horse was moving.
In Front had become more impressive with age. Now that he was racing more frequently, Brooks had to admit that the horse was blossoming. The heavy horse was fit as a fiddle and loving the racing. He loped along over the grass, big ears flopping back and forth above his head. He was a strong animal and pretty easy going for the moment. Brooks knew from experience that when In Front turned on the after burners he would fly.
David Carter watched the horses in front of him analytically. Notorious flicked over the turf with his easy, meticulous strides. The horse was focused on the runners before him. Every now and then he'd press hard on the bit, remind David that he was still interested in the rivals. David let the young horse move at his own pace, not wanting to tap the button yet. Demi and In Front were being urged yet. While Demi didn't require much work to get going, In Front did. In Front was a horse that had to be ridden throughout the homestretch.
With a furlong and a half to go, Brooks went to work on In Front. The burly animal did not seem to speed up right away, but within a few of his huge strides he was at Demi's neck and then head. Soon he was powering ahead and wide on the turn. Justin flicked his wrists and pumped Demi's reins. The bay horse flew after his rival, ears pinned for the first time in the work.
David didn't wait any longer. He showed Note his whip and felt an instantaneous surge. The lean horse cut the turn nicely and knifed away the lead of the older horses with very precise strides. Notorious was something special. These older horses were grinders, but not Note. Note was a deadly force, a snake lying in the weeds.
Ripley heard the murmurs of the clockers along the rail as Notorious flew up behind the older stallions in the stretch. She saw David flick the reins and let out a low whistle when Note cut to the inside of Demi and surged up the tiny gap.
Suddenly, the trio of horses were locked in a battle. In Front was competent over the turf, but the sudden quickening of speed surprised him and he fell back a half length. Divided Notion took advantage of the lack of pressure on his outside and leaped on Note. He flew over the turf and collared the juvenile at the wire. Neither horse slowed down much through the gallop out. Note fought being pulled up, but Demi was more of a gentleman about it.
Brooks patted In Front's neck, pleased with the workout despite his inability to keep up. He'd clocked in at 1:00 3/5 versus Note and Demi's 1:00 1/5. It was a terrific workout over a surface that In Front wasn't at his best for. The big horse simply liked the grinding style of the dirt versus the instant quickening of the turf. Brooks had little doubt that the blaze faced horse was ready for the Kiss Your Title Stakes.
David admired all three horses as they trotted up to Ripley on the dirt rail. He felt a school kid on the first day of school. His horses were all dressed up and ready for the biggest day of racing yet. He couldn't wait to pilot them all in the biggest races of the season!
