Post by Ripley on Sept 2, 2015 8:36:47 GMT -5
In A World Of Sinners
featuring: Uno Momento & Saintly Touch
mission: The Youth Challenge
"Ripley... Do you ever get the feeling that we haven't seen the best of Saint?" Brooks asked as the two colts walked down the row. Beside him, Ripley crossed her arms and watched her horses. She was keen on their every sauntering walk. No hitch, no short stride. Perfect. Ripley nodded to Reese and Justin as they circled to face her. Without another word, each rider was boosted into their respective saddles.
After a moment, Ripley turned to Brookson. "Every day." She patted Brooks' shoulder as she passed by, turning those bright green eyes onto Saint. The dark bay horse almost looked black in the weak winter light. His winter coat had grown in and he looked like a prehistoric monster. He tossed his head and strained for more rein from Reese. His dark eye was bright with excitement. His every muscle was coiled beneath a hide that was dappled out to the nines. Looking at him, Ripley wondered if next year she might have her first true dirt handicap horse.
She didn't know how good he was. He was just plain tough.
Just beyond Saint, Uno Momento struck a powerful pose. While he was the same size as Saint, he looked bigger. He wasn't fat, but he had more brute force to him than Saint. It was surprising because El Sol Del Mar foals were usually neat little things with fine heads and swift speed. Uno was not fine. He looked like his sire and he ran like him too. He was not brilliant. He was a grinder, a tough son of a gun who could run with anything and relished a dog fight. Uno had already proven he could run the classic distance gauntlet. He'd won at ten, eleven and twelve furlongs and seemed to get stronger the longer he went.
"I'm handing Intrepid a bona fide potential Triple Crown candidate," Ripley said to Brooks. Brooks aimed her a side glance. He didn't hear any regret in her words. He wasn't surprised. Ripley didn't regret much and Nick Landing was a close friend of hers. "You worried he'll beat us?"
Ripley smiled at Brooks. "We've got Enrapture, Awestruck and Firestorm. I may feel some happiness for Intrepid if they land the Derby, but we'll be heading there as well under a full head of steam."
Brooks shrugged, looped an arm around Ripley's shoulders. "Only you would be excited about grade four winners with only four wins going into Year Sixteen."
Ripley batted her eyes his way. "Only I could have taken a five race winner and turn her into a Turf Triple Crown winner and future Hall Of Famer."
"Touche," Brooks chuckled. "Year Thirteen was a sensational year,"
Reese patted Saint's neck as he slipped onto the track. The Night Stalker son tossed his head, good eye sweeping the track with interest. He was super alert, strong on the bit. He marched instead of walked. The Preakness winner looked every inch a spectacular horse. It was hard to believe he was already a grade one winner and Reese wasn't sure if he had reached his peak yet.
Justin urged Uno Momento into a canter. The bay horse motored right into gear, rushing right by the well controlled Saintly Touch. Uno ran right into the bridle, ears pricked and legs moving with an impressive strength. Although Incognito, Saint's half-brother, and Barely Smokin had managed to get the best of him in the earlier legs, Justin had no doubt his colt was going to be at his best for the distance of The Youth Challenge. He relished a long distance challenge and the grind only made him better.
Under Reese's pointed instruction, Saint rolled up to Uno's outside on the backstretch. "Four furlongs in :48. Just a maintenance move," she called. Saint flicked his ears and strained against the bit for release. "Settle boy."
As one the two colts moved into their exercise. Uno bowled his way to the lead, quickening his stride until he caught full sail and had advantage of the impressive stride. Justin wrapped his fingers in the colt's mane, grinning as Uno settled down and galloped effortlessly over the loamy dirt. Saint's classic head stayed Uno's saddle cloth. The near black colt had his ears pinned, always appearing as if he was working harder than he was.
Reese felt absolutely confident aboard Saint. The Devil's son was impressive and smooth as could be. She'd always been eager to climb aboard the dragon, but toward the end of the year he was really developing. She took big calming breaths as the duo rolled toward the turn. Uno still maintained his high cruising run into the turn. He was much more relaxed than either Justin or Reese anticipated.
Saint swapped leads and let loose, going from a half-length back to run nose and nose with Uno. Justin sucked in a breath as Saint whirled into the lead as though Uno were standing still. He tossed the reins at his juvenile colt, chirping and shouting. Uno rocketed forward in response. Saint was already a length in front and Uno was sprinting to catch him.
Reese guided Saint to the rail, effectively cutting the inside off from the bay colt. Uno skipped over Saint's hind hooves in athletic move that caught several clockers eyes. Justin waved his stick at the horse, egging him onward. Spurned by the sudden competition, Saint and Uno flew toward the wire, muscles straining to gain the advantage.
The pair hit the wire in an impressive :47 4/5. Ripley nodded in approval and cleared the watch before the clockers asked her the time. They likely already had a watch on her horses anyway. "They're as ready as ever. I can't get them sharper than that."
