Post by Ripley on Feb 29, 2016 18:40:36 GMT -5
SONG AND A DANCE
featuring:
Just A Song and Laura DeComte
Awestruck and Reese Balling Jones"You're the horse collector of the racing world," Brooks remarked as he joined the head trainer at the rail of the dirt track. "No one else goes to other farms and offers to purchase a pair of mares. Just you." Brooks ran a hand through his golden hair and looked at Ripley, but the woman didn't look away. She was busy eyeing the horses on the track, ignoring her assistant's snide comments. She wasn't interested in anyone else's opinion of her bartering skills. So her roster was up to 32 horses with leases from three different stables... sue her. She liked projects when she saw them and if she could wiggle a few breedings down the line... Well, no one would object to her collecting then, would they?
"She looks good out there, doesn't she?" Ripley said suddenly. While her three year old fillies had been her major project for Year Sixteen, they were finally turning it around and quickly. Coveted Faith, Awestruck and Enrapture were looking pretty and developing at the right time. The Turf Tiara and Triple Tiara were one month away. She wasn't sure if she'd send Faith to the Turf Tiara after her recent win over the dirt, but they'd take a wait and see approach.
"Which she?" Brooks asked when Ripley didn't emphasize. He turned his attention to the pair of bay horses and wondered over the hot energy of the Nature Blue Stable horse. Just A Song was on the muscle today. She trucked around the middle of the track, neck bowed and chin neatly tucked. Laura was balanced perfectly over her strong back, eyes forward and hands light. He knew from riding with her that she would keep playing with her fingers, feeling out the horse beneath her. Just A Song wasn't a mean horse by any means, none of Laura's mounts were. Laura didn't specialize in calming the mean down. She specialized in athletes with fine tuned intensity. He'd had his doubts about the pairing, but after watching them gallop the last week, he admitted Ripley was right.
"Well both of them," Ripley quipped. "Just A Song is going to be the project though. I can't believe how few starts she's had. Granted, she was injury prone and she's coming back good this time around, but still. She's as inexperienced as a two year old." She switched her attention from Song to Awestruck. "I was talking about True. She looks terrific. I haven't seen her this strong."
Reese was thinking the same thing as the fleet footed three year old rounded around the final turn. She skipped from jog to lope and tossed her head when Reese wouldn't let her move faster than that. Her Touch Up lines were starting to shine through as she gained ground on the best dirt fillies in the country. Her races were strong and she didn't seem to be a seconditis type. In a way, True reminded her of Bella Luna. Both of them had to deal with the demons of their mind before they could be at their best on the track. True was at her best now. Every workout was stronger and stronger. She floated instead of working hard in gallops and breezes that once frustrated her.
Ripley waved the riders in as they neared and watched the horses as they turned in long looping circles. Just A Song flicked her ears as if she was confused. True pinned hers and threatened to buck. Ripley smiled at their differing approaches to training. "They both look good out there. Let's get them going over five furlongs. I wan't 1:00. These two are well capable of hitting my mark. Just A Song might tug through the first half, Laura, but from watching her, she'll settle down and give True a chance to run up. Let her, but at the turn start encouraging her. We know True's in better shape, but I'd like to see Song finishing strongly. Don't kill her to keep pace."
Laura nodded and patted the sleek horse's neck. The daughter of Justa Muffin stared down the length of the stretch after a galloping Proteus Prince. Everyone turned to admire the big gray stallion as he hauled ass down the lane. Justin was still in the saddle as the animal barreled through impressive fractions without any effort. Brooks let out a low wolf whistle. "You sure you want to give him back to Intrepid?"
Ripley laughed. "Not really, but I don't have room for another powerful turf sensation." She switched her attention back to the pair of fillies and raised an eyebrow. "What are you still doing here?"
After a sigh from Laura and a poignant eye-roll from Reese, the women turned their mounts and asked for a lope. Awestruck tossed her head furiously, but quickly fell into her ground eating stride. Her outside ear tracked Just A Song through the warm up to the backstretch. Her competitive fires were burning bright today. She cocked her head to the outside, keeping one bright eye on the older mare. Reese shook her head and tugged on the inside rein to capture her attention. "Not yet, Crazy Jane."
Laura knew True was doing her best to antagonize her mount. Awestruck stood for intimidation like Calamity Queen and The Devil's Touch. While it was an attractive trait, Laura wasn't looking for a keyed up mount. Just A Song peered at the three year old around her blinkers, angling her body just so she could keep an eye on the threat. She snorted with every marching step, amping herself up by the time they reached the first pole. Let's go before you drive me insane," Laura said and showed the mare the whip.
The mare's speed was instantaneous. She leaped forward, head cranked all the way up in the air and hind end pushing off the ground. She switched her tail in good spirits before leveling out into a long-legged run. Her ears pinned briefly back into her black mane as she shot forward. Laura peeked under her shoulder and noted that she had enough space in front of an irritable True to cross over. With some quick rein work and a chirp, Just A Song darted to the rail and took up her position. Laura held her breath as the bay clicked through an early fraction of 13 and change. "Settle down, girl. We've got a long way to go from here. She's a lot fitter than you think."
Awestruck took up the captain's seat just off the rail and behind Just A Song. Her ears flickered back and forth over her fine head as if this was a piece of cake. Reese stood in the saddle, feeling the growing tug from the bit. True wasn't a speedy front runner type, but today she wanted to go get Song. Reese took it as a great sign, but knuckled down until True settled back into her powering gallop with only a few protests.
Song pricked her ears when they hit the third furlong and let off the gas just a little bit. Laura smiled broadly, knowing that this kind of efficiency would come in handy over a route of ground. She glanced under her armpit and found Awestruck right on Song's tail, but the older mare didn't seem pressured. She loped along in a great gamboling stride meant for a long-distance runner. Her outside ear locked on Awestruck who seemed content to trail at her flank, but she didn't pick up the pace. Laura let the reins loosen and allowed her runner to relax through a :37 2/5 three furlongs.
The duo galloped forward into the turn, swapping leads on command. Here Just A Song showed her strength. Rested from the prior furlong, she kicked on upon asking and put a length between herself and Awestruck. Her ears fell back into her mane, betraying her effort as she pulled away from the Touch Up daughter. Laura didn't give her too much encouragement after that. She knew it was over, but she would keep the older mare on point.
As expected, True bounded forward to accost Song in the straightaway. Song kicked it up a gear, but it was nothing compared to True's. The edgy filly poured it on with no encouragement and stormed right on by, ears pricked as if she were going easy. Reese counted the time off in her head and knew that she wasn't going as slow as it felt. The filly soared through the wire an impressive four lengths in front of her workmate. Awestruck didn't wrap it up from there. She continued through the wire and into a sixth furlong with an intensity that showed Reese she was ready for the next jump in class.
Just A Song galloped with interest through the wire in 1:00 4/5, right on the edge of Ripley's time. Ripley whistled and glanced at Brooks. "How is it that True can make an older mare look ordinary when Song is anything but?"
Brooks smiled and slung an arm around Ripley's shoulders. "Song will catch up quickly, but True might be on another level right now. We've got time with both of them."
Ripley grinned. "They won't need time. They need racing, but not nearly as much as I expected."
