Post by Ripley on Jan 20, 2016 11:34:05 GMT -5
FIRE STARTER
Featuring.
Enrapture and Firestorm.
Battle Brook Stable was coming off of one of its biggest weeks of the season after Sun King's triumph in the Spring Dawn Treader Cup. However, there's no such thing as rest for the weary and Ripley wanted to see more from her dirt runners. So far the season had been a bit frustrating, but with Notorious' win in the West Virginia Derby over a top class group of three year olds, she felt revitalized. Note was coming off of a confidence builder and she needed something similar for her Triple Crown and Triple Tiara runners. Last season's juvenile debacle had set her crew back a bit, but now they were maturing into fine three year olds.
Among the finest were Firestorm and Enrapture, both of whom Ripley expected great things from. The duo were warming up on the sand track beneath Laura and Brooks. Firestorm tossed his dish faced head as if he couldn't understand the slippery surface beneath him. His hooves kept slipping through the fine particles and he wasn't a fan of the amount of work it took to navigate through it. Laura sat silently in the saddle as the colt reconfigured his expectations of the track, allowing the horse plenty of freedom to maneuver.
Enrapture floated over it like she was born to be a desert horse. Her tawny body glittered in the light as she played over the surface. She trotted with her neck bowed, pressing hard into the bit as if she couldn't believe that Brooks wasn't letting her do more than this jog. Even from here, Ripley could tell that the filly was full of herself. As she should be. The filly hadn't run since a powerful victory in the Gateway Derby in January. She'd been explosive in her workouts ever since and her attitude was off the charts. If the sand didn't take the edge off, nothing would. All signs pointed toward Ennie being in a completely different class than last season, but Ripley wasn't quite ready to enter the filly against the big guns. A few more starts in the undercards, hopefully not against older horses, would truly be a benefit to the horse that Ripley had pinned her hopes on for so long.
Ripley was certain that the older horses were the bane of Firestorm's existence. He hadn't won a race December Week Three only because every time he ran, he was facing older horses. Some of them didn't even have as nice of a record as the handsome son of Kyoujin yet they were still able to beat him. The colt had finished second and third four times in Year Sixteen and he was dying for a win. Ripley had hopes that this sand track would give him enough of a stamina boost to match his cruising speed. If an older horse faced him, Firestorm was going to be ready. He was hungry and he deserved a victory.
The pair trotted by along the outside rail, both of them flicking their ears when Ripley kissed at them. Firestorm snorted and let loose a kick that did not impress Laura, but made Ripley smile. He reminded her of his Canadian Triple Crown winning half-brother, Anodyne. They weren't looking to emulate Anodyne. Their plans were to go to the Triple Crown itself, but they needed to start winning if they were going to face Barely Smokin, Incognito and Battle Brook owned Uno Momento.
"Canter up to the backstretch and then let them breeze six furlongs. I don't care about the final time because I'll have no way to judge. I want them to go faster with every furlong. Think lung opener."
Laura and Brooks nodded and asked their horses to step off into a canter. Firestorm transitioned smoothly enough, dropping his head and powering through the surface with a burst of excitement. Sand flew out from under him and he snorted foolishly. "Easy, Chief. I know you think this surface is funny, but I need you to be a professional right now."
Enrapture glided right into her gallop for Brooks, pressing hard for more rein. He could feel the need to fight brewing within the Furious Passion daughter. If her juvenile season had gone any other way, Ennie could have been going for the crown instead of Firestorm. Instead, her date with the boys would wait until at least the end of the year, if not her four year old season. Her long black mane billowed back into his face as she galloped and exploited that unexpectedly long stride of hers. Firestorm was more than able to keep up heading for the start of the workout and he would probably assume the lead when it started. Yet, Brooks was certain Ennie would give him hell.
The start of the workout came fast and Firestorm was swift into stride. He gunned forward until he was clear of Ennie by a length. Laura peeked under her arm and guided the horse down to the rail before letting him settle into his stride. Firestorm's ears went straight up in the air as if he'd been doing this his whole life. Laura was pretty impressed that he felt so smooth over the unpredictable track. Maybe he'd just been playing the entire jog around the first time.
Ennie floated over the sand, her hoofbeats perfectly rhythmic and her confidence growing higher. She breathed steadily through her nostrils and seemed absolutely effortless. Brooks sat still as a statue on her broad back, letting her do as she pleased for the first initial furlongs. He didn't even have to niggle at her to keep up. She stayed a perfect two lengths back, well within striking range of Firestorm. "Atta girl," Brooks whispered into her black rimmed ears.
Ripley watched the time speed up on her watch as the horses moved into the fourth furlong of the breeze. Firestorm maintained a commanding presence, still flicking his ears as if he were waiting for the catch. Enrapture's black legs carried her within a length and a half of the colt, but she still looked like she was going easy. "You can urge them on a bit more," Ripley called into the radio.
Neither of them answered affirmatively, but in a matter of seconds both of them were shaking their mounts up. Firestorm streaked forward, pulling away briefly to a two length lead again, but Enrapture was quickly into gear. The tawny filly bore down on his outside, ears pinned to her cranium when she realized that they were in a race. Brooks and Laura were at a standstill now as Firestorm and Ennie duked it out. Their pace was furious and strong and they cut through the surface as if they'd done it all their lives. Although the time was slower than it would be on a regular dirt track, Ripley could not be more impressed as they dashed through the line.
She hit the watch, memorizing the time and counting off fractions in her head for the gallop out. Both horses galloped out on even terms, swapping leads and bowing their necks. They knew they'd done well. Ripley smiled when her riders gave each of them an appreciative rub on the neck. After a work like that, she had to have high hopes for what came next.
