October Week Two Workouts: Enjoy!
Frozen Motion, Bella Luna, Dazzling Dame, Mastermind& GS Royal Crown.
no respect
Brooks and Reese watched as Ripley paced up and down the main hallway of the barn. The woman was moving like a cat stalking its prey. Her body was furious and on edge. A paper had posted negative things about two of her brightest stars, calling her a phony and saying that Stride of Perfection or Intrepid Racing would do a better job with them. Her green eyes were on full boil and neither of the other humans knew what to do about it. Ripley had been on a tangent all morning and hadn't come out to watch or participate in the workouts after Cross'. Everyone had thought it strange until they found her kicking the crap out of a trash can behind the barn. The woman had a vicious temper when prodded.
Frozen Motion and Bella Luna had been the subject of that newspaper article. Frankly, both Brooks and Reese agreed that Ripley had the right to be furious about what had been said in the article. They'd picked every inch of Lulu's hide apart and then went on to decimate Frozen Motion's reputation after his failed attempt in the Caulfield Cup. Both riders were furious. Both of them were furiously in love with these specific mounts. And both of them were annoyed that Ripley Marsh was still considered the second class trainer. Her horses had been dominating the entire season and now that they were finally nearing the end, the critics had to jump up and point out the obvious. The horses were tired! So were everyone else's. But when both riders looked to the horses standing within the cross ties of the barn, neither of them saw tiredness.
Bella Luna looked absolutely fantastic. The brilliant near white filly looked absolutely gorgeous. Her muscles were becoming honed, her eyes gleamed with a new take charge attitude. She'd won three races and then finished second to an older horse. There was no shame in that. So what if she didn't have the appearance of a Nightshade, a Ventura, a Tears of An Angel kind of look. She was her own horse and extremely talented. Her distances were endless. She could run from a mile to twelve furlongs. Neither of those horses could do that. Reese was furious. She'd taken it to heart, just as Ripley had. Before Reese had come along, she'd only been doing average. But as soon as she had faced success in the eye, Lulu was ripped apart like a piece of meat. Reese stroked the filly's gentle, feeling the relaxing nature that surrounded Lulu. She was the kindest horse on the track. One of the most beautiful and they tore it apart. Vultures.
Ripley paused in her pacing to watch as Brooks stepped up to Frozen Motion. She could not see a single chink in the dappled blue-gray colt. He was never the favorite in any of his races and everyone always bet him to lose. This was the colt who nearly won the Turf Triple Crown. He had beaten Infinite Warcry. He had gone from a grade five to a grade three colt in the matter of months and was sitting on grade two in his next big race. Ripley had searched many barns trying to find the similar success. And found no comparisons but within Witch Creek. Dazzling Dame. Ashes to Ashes. Frozen Motion. All were rocketing to the top and it seemed like no one was paying attention.
Brooks could feel Ripley's eyes zeroing in on his frame. He could feel the heat and the rage. He could also feel that she was planning something incredible. Anytime she felt annoyed with the public, she gave her crew something else to think about. Something to block them from the problems of it all. A smile creeped onto Ripley's lips. Freeze snorted nervously as if he could feel the temperature drop twenty degrees as well. He danced anxiously in the cross-ties, dappled body suddenly pumping up to extremes.
Lulu caught the same vibe, she bowed her neck and her satin hide twitched excitedly. Reese put a gentle hanf on her neck and eyed Ripley up. Can we help you Marsh? Ripley switched her gaze to Reese, her eyes sparkling, but did not answer until she was standing side by side with Mastermind. The elegant lion-hearted Speed Demon son touched Ripley's shoulder with his muzzle, eyes suddenly becoming intense. He nickered softly. Ripley scratched his ears and finally answered. How about a race between the turf horses at Witch Creek?
Brooks and Reese stared at her as if she'd lost her mind. Which horses exactly? Brooks asked anxiously. Ripley stroked Mastermind's neck, plotting it out. Oh Freeze, Lulu, Crow, Mastermind and Dame should do the trick. We need to stage a race between them. I want to see what we have here. And I want to be able to have proof that we have better stock than everyone is giving us credit for.
Reese rubbed her hands together, appreciating Ripley's evil plot. The woman may not be her favorite all the time, but she did have a mind for drama. And a heightened sense of what would work for all of the horses. Reese gazed at Lulu, who returned the soft look. Her white filly was exactly the horse for this job. How long a race? Ripley smirked. All of them can handle nine furlongs. We'll do a a half mile warm up on the way to the turf track. Brooks and Reese nodded in agreement. Sounds like a plan to me! Reese called.
Ripley nodded, Great! I'll go get Maggie and Justin and we'll get everyone ready! Reese and Brooks flew into action a second after Ripley left the barn. The woman wasn't kidding about this workout.. er race.
...
The parade of five horses marched out of the barn and down the hillside toward the 1/4 mile warm-up stretch before the turf course. Three gray hides glittered like diamonds in the early weak lighting, Dame's near black body sparkled like a black jem and Mastermind looked as if he'd just stepped out of a Roman painting. The five horses had never looked any better, more incredible and more under-appreciated. Ripley was at the head of quintet, sitting proudly on Mastermind's back. He was perked up already, ears twitching in curiosity. They had not done this sort of thing with the new horses at Witch Creek. Royal Assault, El Sol del Mar and DW Flamekissed would have attested that this activity had been very common in the Battle Brook days, when they too had been given zero respect.
Crow bopped along beneath Maggie, head flying, spit dripping from the sides of his mouth. He cantered and then crow-hopped, letting a buck fly. The big gray-roan horse was full of himself today. He didn't need a crowd and jockey silks to know that he was going headlong into a race. Sitting as she did, Maggie grinned. Her colt was no fool. He was just caught in a bit of a hump that he couldn't seem to push over. He dipped his head and pushed mightily off his hind end, propelling himself level with Mastermind, who pinned his ears. Ripley leaned over and stroked Crow's excited face. The happy colt tossed his head in mock joy.
Justin gritted his teeth as Dame bolted from a canter to pre-race gallop. She did this every race, though she had never done it to him. He'd never ridden in a race before, but Ripley had set it up perfectly so that Justin could get race practice in over a more difficult track than the one he'd face at The Wire and Green Horse Fields. Dame squealed, pinned her ears and muscled her way across the green. She was growing burlier by the month and the weeks off had left her full of pep. The perfect time to be on full-steam ahead because her toughest three races were coming up starting in November.
Brooks and Reese lagged at the back of the pack. Bella Luna and Frozen Motion were no comparison to Dazzling Dame in the pre-race workout. Lulu did a little more than canter and Freeze stuck to an eager jog. Reese had grown more impressed with her snowy filly with each race they'd partnered up in. She was always consistent and just rounding into form. She had a big future ahead of her. Reese stroked her neck. Lulu was the only horse she rode that she could play with like this. The only horse that tolerated affection and returned more than her share of it. Amusement and contentment glittered in Reese's as she flipped into a happy canter up the track, after a blitzing Dame, a cocky Crow and a clever Mastermind.
For Frozen Motion, the future was now. The dappled gray iron horse had been on his toes for the entire season and in his last start he had made a mistake. He had not been there for Brooks in the Caulfield Cup, against a field he should have had a shot in. The Spitz son had been performing gallantly all season, only getting his recognition at The Wire and being shorted even though he had taken two legs of the Turf Triple Crown and not Infinite Warcry. Brooks was annoyed for his partner. Freeze was a champion and he was on the verge of grade two level. He just needed to get up in his next start and prove to his doubters that he would not fail them. Brooks slapped the colt's neck heartily, transferring of some of his inner pep and adrenaline into his favored mount.
Ripley sat at the starting line aboard her gleaming bronze statue of a beast. Speed Demon's powerful son Mastermind was not receiving the same respect he had started out with earlier in the year. It was strange, but it made no sense at all. She had yet to see a two year old colt more brilliant on any given day than Mastermind. Mastermind, when he was on his toes, could not be beaten. He was full proof to put on a good show. Next time out, they would put on a show. He vibrated beneath Ripley, eyes wide as saucers, nostrils flared. He was in his prime form. He wanted to run, wanted to race, wanted to bury horses in the ground.
She waited for the others to reach the invisible starting line. Her green eyes scanned the crowd. None of the horses looked out of place in this line up. All of them were built beyond their years, all of them fit as fiddles. She could not see a chink in the armor and she wouldn't bother finding one. A slump was expected at some point in the season. They would recover to put up a fight by November and then the Breeders Cup. She twined her fingers into Mastermind's mane and sighed contentedly. This was where she belonged. With friends. With family. With horses.
The horses stood in a straight line, some better than others. Crow was still doing his Irish jig beneath Maggie. The colt bowed his neck, mane standing on end as he flashed his Trojan horse appeal. Lulu nickered quietly alongside Frozen Motion, happy to be with her buddy on such a fine morning. And Dame was stone cold silent. Just as Justin was. Ripley shook her head. If she'd found a pair made for heaven, that was surely it. The head trainer nodded to Connor who sat aboard The Devil at the "fake" line, holding a whistle. The Devil was keyed up, but Connor confidently handled her classic charger frame.
Ripley focused ahead, quiet, joining her friends in the race-time focus. Mastermind snorted. Dame let out her whistle. Crow squealed and danced. A quick chide from Maggie and he went quiet for the first time all morning. The whistle blew and the silence was broken as quick as a snap of the finger.
...
Dame broke like a rocket beneath Justin. Her dazzling form went from standstill to full out race gallop in a matter of moments. Justin had barely moved. Frozen Motion broke as well, storming after his three year old other-half, and took up a perfect pace pressing position. He latched onto her hip and settled into his domineering relaxed gallop as he had been doing all year. Mastermind settled off of the older pair in second. His head was up and eager as they marched for the first hill. Ripley was dead quiet on him, only using her voice to egg him on when necessary. He was locked in and loaded to the max. Ripley glanced under her shoulder and spotted GS Royal Crown about a half-length behind them to their outside. The gray colt's legs were flying. He was a dramatic runner with a fascinating style. Maggie could feel the need for speed burning inside his white marked cranium. But he would settle because she asked him too.
Reese watched all the drama from the back. They weren't more than three furlongs behind Dame and Freeze. It was the usual position they took up in a race and it was their natural position here. This faux barn race was loaded with speed. Lulu's patient approach would work wonders in this race. Reese ran a gloved hand down her filly's sparkly mane. Lulu was a dark horse. She was developing gradually, but she was developing quicker than most did.
Brooks eased the reins between his fingers, letting the dappled gray colt settle into his comfortable gallop. Dame spurted to lead by a half-length. Freeze had just as high a cruising as Dazzling Dame. He had learned how to old it in. Justin glanced over at Brooks every so often. Dame was right on the bit this morning, there for him whenever he needed her. He liked a little distance between her and the rest of them. He wasn't sure how good Mastermind was doing, but he knew Freeze was right there. The dappled gray always showed up. Justin whispered to Dame, leaned closer as they powered up the second hillside.
Mastermind switched comfortably to his other lead when Ripley asked and bounced against GS Royal Crown. Maggie glared at Ripley and Mastermind. The woman never failed to get her goat during a race or workout. She defiantly switched Crow to his other lead and they picked up the pace, closing the slim gap already between Freeze and Dame. Ripley's veins burned with adrenaline as Mastermind rocketed up to Dazzling Dame's left side. The stocky bay filly snaked her head in Mastermind's direction, but a soft hand from Justin returned her attention to the game at hand.
There were four furlongs left in the race. Reese clucked her tongue at the line of horses charging before her. Lulu's interest was peaked. Her ears, twin towers, were glued on the running forms of her stable mates. Reese sat chilly, only asking for a little giddy-up when the distance seemed to widen. Brooks was looking around, trying to see where everyone was. Reese moved Lulu in and out, staying out of the blonde man's line of sight. Even if Lulu couldn't beat these more experienced, stronger horses just at the moment, it was good practice for the actual race.
Maggie let Crow out a notch now that the three furlong flat was coming into sight. The colt launched forward, taking up the slack immediately and taking the lead away from a dueling Dame and Freeze. Mastermind and Ripley swarmed up the other side of Dame, daring Crow to run full out. Maggie snatched back at the reins, calming her colt down and preparing for the final stretch.
Ripley practically gasped at the amount of power that Mastermind exuded. He was one of the most impressive two year old horses she had ever been around. There was speed, stamina, class and intensity. He just knew the game, how to act, how to just do it his way. She flicked her fingers on the reins and suddenly he fell back behind Dame, Freeze and Crow. His chestnut form was so malleable. So crafty and clever. Ripley crooned in his ears, tucking him behind Freeze. Dame had shorter strides and Mastermind threatened to go right over the top of her.
Thundering hooves sounded throughout the air, steam poured from each horse's nose. They were Ripley's army of power and pizzazz. The stretch hit and Crow was the first to move. The steel gray colt leaped right out of Maggie's hands, sweeping to the lead with quick, long strides. Ripley guided Mastermind over to Crow's empty place in the line and sent her eagle-eyed colt after him. Dame shot forward from Freeze's outside, surging up to Crow's shoulder, her ears pinned flat to her dark head. Brooks waited a moment. He needed to see what everyone's game plan was. And he still had yet to tag Lulu in the mess of it all.
Mastermind and Crow vied head and head for the lead. Both chestnut and gray were equally matched here, just as they were on the dirt they called home. They would vie against one another for most of their lives. Ripley shook the reins again and Mastermind pounced. His long strides extending to glorious lengths. His chestnut body glittered as he leaped ahead of Crow. Maggie hadn't moved too much at the moment. A quick flick of her fingers had the gray up at Mastermind's throat latch.
Dame and Freeze once again matched strides, this time behind their younger counter parts as they sped across the three furlong flat. Justin and Brooks looked eyes, shifted their weight and threw the reins down. As one, Dame and Freeze surged forward, a lion and his lady. Their strides were even and eager as they leaped for the final kill. The bay and gray parted Mastermind and Crow and ran right on by, masters of the turf. Ripley and Maggie shouted, flung the reins down and grinned when the pair bolted after Freeze and Dame.
Reese could see that the battle was not nearing the end. Lulu was pulling on the reins, her own stride quickening in the excitement up ahead. Reese shook her head and dashed the reins against the filly's pearl neck and sent her. Reese barely hung on as Lulu surged forward with a kick she hadn't been expecting. The wand slim form of Lulu's encompassed the grass, closing the distance with an electrifying kick. Reese stared, quietly urging for a hole to open up. The equine beneath her was ready to take flight. A hallelujah prayer was cranked from her mouth as Mastermind and Crow broke apart briefly. Hands and feet worked together, pumping her crafty for more energy. Bella Luna responded like a rocket. She stormed across the grass, making up the two lengths and then some as she split both Crow and Mastermind.
Ripley and Maggie glanced at her in shock as Lulu surged right on by them, gunning it for Dame and Frozen Motion. They set their own horses to a drive, keeping their mounts at Lulu's haunches. But the battle up front was burning to a wild fire. Dame and Freeze were at each others throat. The burly dark bay filly wouldn't let Freeze by. Her wildly new talent clashed with his overwhelming class. Freeze was locked onto her, but he couldn't move ahead. She was considered a turf upstart and he a disrespected winner of two legs of the Turf Triple Crown. And she couldn't beat him. They were dead even. Brooks asked for more from Freeze and the gray dug deep to catch on. They were matched at nine furlongs, ten, eleven.
They surged together under the imaginary wire; Freeze just getting ahead of Dame by a whisker. They swept into the closing gallop, Lulu bursting behind them with a show of speed. The pearly filly beat out Mastermind and GS Royal Crown by a neck. Hoots rose up from the riders and hands clasped in excitement. The race had been unbelievable, quick and none of the horses were tired. Ripley grinned as she looked over her horses. Their eyes were bright and excitable. They looked glorious. She leaned down and rubbed Mastermind's shoulders and neck. He had plenty of room to grow. She kissed his chestnut hide, grinning. Wonderful. He would get his respect. Just like the rest of her string.
Frozen Motion and Bella Luna had been the subject of that newspaper article. Frankly, both Brooks and Reese agreed that Ripley had the right to be furious about what had been said in the article. They'd picked every inch of Lulu's hide apart and then went on to decimate Frozen Motion's reputation after his failed attempt in the Caulfield Cup. Both riders were furious. Both of them were furiously in love with these specific mounts. And both of them were annoyed that Ripley Marsh was still considered the second class trainer. Her horses had been dominating the entire season and now that they were finally nearing the end, the critics had to jump up and point out the obvious. The horses were tired! So were everyone else's. But when both riders looked to the horses standing within the cross ties of the barn, neither of them saw tiredness.
Bella Luna looked absolutely fantastic. The brilliant near white filly looked absolutely gorgeous. Her muscles were becoming honed, her eyes gleamed with a new take charge attitude. She'd won three races and then finished second to an older horse. There was no shame in that. So what if she didn't have the appearance of a Nightshade, a Ventura, a Tears of An Angel kind of look. She was her own horse and extremely talented. Her distances were endless. She could run from a mile to twelve furlongs. Neither of those horses could do that. Reese was furious. She'd taken it to heart, just as Ripley had. Before Reese had come along, she'd only been doing average. But as soon as she had faced success in the eye, Lulu was ripped apart like a piece of meat. Reese stroked the filly's gentle, feeling the relaxing nature that surrounded Lulu. She was the kindest horse on the track. One of the most beautiful and they tore it apart. Vultures.
Ripley paused in her pacing to watch as Brooks stepped up to Frozen Motion. She could not see a single chink in the dappled blue-gray colt. He was never the favorite in any of his races and everyone always bet him to lose. This was the colt who nearly won the Turf Triple Crown. He had beaten Infinite Warcry. He had gone from a grade five to a grade three colt in the matter of months and was sitting on grade two in his next big race. Ripley had searched many barns trying to find the similar success. And found no comparisons but within Witch Creek. Dazzling Dame. Ashes to Ashes. Frozen Motion. All were rocketing to the top and it seemed like no one was paying attention.
Brooks could feel Ripley's eyes zeroing in on his frame. He could feel the heat and the rage. He could also feel that she was planning something incredible. Anytime she felt annoyed with the public, she gave her crew something else to think about. Something to block them from the problems of it all. A smile creeped onto Ripley's lips. Freeze snorted nervously as if he could feel the temperature drop twenty degrees as well. He danced anxiously in the cross-ties, dappled body suddenly pumping up to extremes.
Lulu caught the same vibe, she bowed her neck and her satin hide twitched excitedly. Reese put a gentle hanf on her neck and eyed Ripley up. Can we help you Marsh? Ripley switched her gaze to Reese, her eyes sparkling, but did not answer until she was standing side by side with Mastermind. The elegant lion-hearted Speed Demon son touched Ripley's shoulder with his muzzle, eyes suddenly becoming intense. He nickered softly. Ripley scratched his ears and finally answered. How about a race between the turf horses at Witch Creek?
Brooks and Reese stared at her as if she'd lost her mind. Which horses exactly? Brooks asked anxiously. Ripley stroked Mastermind's neck, plotting it out. Oh Freeze, Lulu, Crow, Mastermind and Dame should do the trick. We need to stage a race between them. I want to see what we have here. And I want to be able to have proof that we have better stock than everyone is giving us credit for.
Reese rubbed her hands together, appreciating Ripley's evil plot. The woman may not be her favorite all the time, but she did have a mind for drama. And a heightened sense of what would work for all of the horses. Reese gazed at Lulu, who returned the soft look. Her white filly was exactly the horse for this job. How long a race? Ripley smirked. All of them can handle nine furlongs. We'll do a a half mile warm up on the way to the turf track. Brooks and Reese nodded in agreement. Sounds like a plan to me! Reese called.
Ripley nodded, Great! I'll go get Maggie and Justin and we'll get everyone ready! Reese and Brooks flew into action a second after Ripley left the barn. The woman wasn't kidding about this workout.. er race.
...
The parade of five horses marched out of the barn and down the hillside toward the 1/4 mile warm-up stretch before the turf course. Three gray hides glittered like diamonds in the early weak lighting, Dame's near black body sparkled like a black jem and Mastermind looked as if he'd just stepped out of a Roman painting. The five horses had never looked any better, more incredible and more under-appreciated. Ripley was at the head of quintet, sitting proudly on Mastermind's back. He was perked up already, ears twitching in curiosity. They had not done this sort of thing with the new horses at Witch Creek. Royal Assault, El Sol del Mar and DW Flamekissed would have attested that this activity had been very common in the Battle Brook days, when they too had been given zero respect.
Crow bopped along beneath Maggie, head flying, spit dripping from the sides of his mouth. He cantered and then crow-hopped, letting a buck fly. The big gray-roan horse was full of himself today. He didn't need a crowd and jockey silks to know that he was going headlong into a race. Sitting as she did, Maggie grinned. Her colt was no fool. He was just caught in a bit of a hump that he couldn't seem to push over. He dipped his head and pushed mightily off his hind end, propelling himself level with Mastermind, who pinned his ears. Ripley leaned over and stroked Crow's excited face. The happy colt tossed his head in mock joy.
Justin gritted his teeth as Dame bolted from a canter to pre-race gallop. She did this every race, though she had never done it to him. He'd never ridden in a race before, but Ripley had set it up perfectly so that Justin could get race practice in over a more difficult track than the one he'd face at The Wire and Green Horse Fields. Dame squealed, pinned her ears and muscled her way across the green. She was growing burlier by the month and the weeks off had left her full of pep. The perfect time to be on full-steam ahead because her toughest three races were coming up starting in November.
Brooks and Reese lagged at the back of the pack. Bella Luna and Frozen Motion were no comparison to Dazzling Dame in the pre-race workout. Lulu did a little more than canter and Freeze stuck to an eager jog. Reese had grown more impressed with her snowy filly with each race they'd partnered up in. She was always consistent and just rounding into form. She had a big future ahead of her. Reese stroked her neck. Lulu was the only horse she rode that she could play with like this. The only horse that tolerated affection and returned more than her share of it. Amusement and contentment glittered in Reese's as she flipped into a happy canter up the track, after a blitzing Dame, a cocky Crow and a clever Mastermind.
For Frozen Motion, the future was now. The dappled gray iron horse had been on his toes for the entire season and in his last start he had made a mistake. He had not been there for Brooks in the Caulfield Cup, against a field he should have had a shot in. The Spitz son had been performing gallantly all season, only getting his recognition at The Wire and being shorted even though he had taken two legs of the Turf Triple Crown and not Infinite Warcry. Brooks was annoyed for his partner. Freeze was a champion and he was on the verge of grade two level. He just needed to get up in his next start and prove to his doubters that he would not fail them. Brooks slapped the colt's neck heartily, transferring of some of his inner pep and adrenaline into his favored mount.
Ripley sat at the starting line aboard her gleaming bronze statue of a beast. Speed Demon's powerful son Mastermind was not receiving the same respect he had started out with earlier in the year. It was strange, but it made no sense at all. She had yet to see a two year old colt more brilliant on any given day than Mastermind. Mastermind, when he was on his toes, could not be beaten. He was full proof to put on a good show. Next time out, they would put on a show. He vibrated beneath Ripley, eyes wide as saucers, nostrils flared. He was in his prime form. He wanted to run, wanted to race, wanted to bury horses in the ground.
She waited for the others to reach the invisible starting line. Her green eyes scanned the crowd. None of the horses looked out of place in this line up. All of them were built beyond their years, all of them fit as fiddles. She could not see a chink in the armor and she wouldn't bother finding one. A slump was expected at some point in the season. They would recover to put up a fight by November and then the Breeders Cup. She twined her fingers into Mastermind's mane and sighed contentedly. This was where she belonged. With friends. With family. With horses.
The horses stood in a straight line, some better than others. Crow was still doing his Irish jig beneath Maggie. The colt bowed his neck, mane standing on end as he flashed his Trojan horse appeal. Lulu nickered quietly alongside Frozen Motion, happy to be with her buddy on such a fine morning. And Dame was stone cold silent. Just as Justin was. Ripley shook her head. If she'd found a pair made for heaven, that was surely it. The head trainer nodded to Connor who sat aboard The Devil at the "fake" line, holding a whistle. The Devil was keyed up, but Connor confidently handled her classic charger frame.
Ripley focused ahead, quiet, joining her friends in the race-time focus. Mastermind snorted. Dame let out her whistle. Crow squealed and danced. A quick chide from Maggie and he went quiet for the first time all morning. The whistle blew and the silence was broken as quick as a snap of the finger.
...
Dame broke like a rocket beneath Justin. Her dazzling form went from standstill to full out race gallop in a matter of moments. Justin had barely moved. Frozen Motion broke as well, storming after his three year old other-half, and took up a perfect pace pressing position. He latched onto her hip and settled into his domineering relaxed gallop as he had been doing all year. Mastermind settled off of the older pair in second. His head was up and eager as they marched for the first hill. Ripley was dead quiet on him, only using her voice to egg him on when necessary. He was locked in and loaded to the max. Ripley glanced under her shoulder and spotted GS Royal Crown about a half-length behind them to their outside. The gray colt's legs were flying. He was a dramatic runner with a fascinating style. Maggie could feel the need for speed burning inside his white marked cranium. But he would settle because she asked him too.
Reese watched all the drama from the back. They weren't more than three furlongs behind Dame and Freeze. It was the usual position they took up in a race and it was their natural position here. This faux barn race was loaded with speed. Lulu's patient approach would work wonders in this race. Reese ran a gloved hand down her filly's sparkly mane. Lulu was a dark horse. She was developing gradually, but she was developing quicker than most did.
Brooks eased the reins between his fingers, letting the dappled gray colt settle into his comfortable gallop. Dame spurted to lead by a half-length. Freeze had just as high a cruising as Dazzling Dame. He had learned how to old it in. Justin glanced over at Brooks every so often. Dame was right on the bit this morning, there for him whenever he needed her. He liked a little distance between her and the rest of them. He wasn't sure how good Mastermind was doing, but he knew Freeze was right there. The dappled gray always showed up. Justin whispered to Dame, leaned closer as they powered up the second hillside.
Mastermind switched comfortably to his other lead when Ripley asked and bounced against GS Royal Crown. Maggie glared at Ripley and Mastermind. The woman never failed to get her goat during a race or workout. She defiantly switched Crow to his other lead and they picked up the pace, closing the slim gap already between Freeze and Dame. Ripley's veins burned with adrenaline as Mastermind rocketed up to Dazzling Dame's left side. The stocky bay filly snaked her head in Mastermind's direction, but a soft hand from Justin returned her attention to the game at hand.
There were four furlongs left in the race. Reese clucked her tongue at the line of horses charging before her. Lulu's interest was peaked. Her ears, twin towers, were glued on the running forms of her stable mates. Reese sat chilly, only asking for a little giddy-up when the distance seemed to widen. Brooks was looking around, trying to see where everyone was. Reese moved Lulu in and out, staying out of the blonde man's line of sight. Even if Lulu couldn't beat these more experienced, stronger horses just at the moment, it was good practice for the actual race.
Maggie let Crow out a notch now that the three furlong flat was coming into sight. The colt launched forward, taking up the slack immediately and taking the lead away from a dueling Dame and Freeze. Mastermind and Ripley swarmed up the other side of Dame, daring Crow to run full out. Maggie snatched back at the reins, calming her colt down and preparing for the final stretch.
Ripley practically gasped at the amount of power that Mastermind exuded. He was one of the most impressive two year old horses she had ever been around. There was speed, stamina, class and intensity. He just knew the game, how to act, how to just do it his way. She flicked her fingers on the reins and suddenly he fell back behind Dame, Freeze and Crow. His chestnut form was so malleable. So crafty and clever. Ripley crooned in his ears, tucking him behind Freeze. Dame had shorter strides and Mastermind threatened to go right over the top of her.
Thundering hooves sounded throughout the air, steam poured from each horse's nose. They were Ripley's army of power and pizzazz. The stretch hit and Crow was the first to move. The steel gray colt leaped right out of Maggie's hands, sweeping to the lead with quick, long strides. Ripley guided Mastermind over to Crow's empty place in the line and sent her eagle-eyed colt after him. Dame shot forward from Freeze's outside, surging up to Crow's shoulder, her ears pinned flat to her dark head. Brooks waited a moment. He needed to see what everyone's game plan was. And he still had yet to tag Lulu in the mess of it all.
Mastermind and Crow vied head and head for the lead. Both chestnut and gray were equally matched here, just as they were on the dirt they called home. They would vie against one another for most of their lives. Ripley shook the reins again and Mastermind pounced. His long strides extending to glorious lengths. His chestnut body glittered as he leaped ahead of Crow. Maggie hadn't moved too much at the moment. A quick flick of her fingers had the gray up at Mastermind's throat latch.
Dame and Freeze once again matched strides, this time behind their younger counter parts as they sped across the three furlong flat. Justin and Brooks looked eyes, shifted their weight and threw the reins down. As one, Dame and Freeze surged forward, a lion and his lady. Their strides were even and eager as they leaped for the final kill. The bay and gray parted Mastermind and Crow and ran right on by, masters of the turf. Ripley and Maggie shouted, flung the reins down and grinned when the pair bolted after Freeze and Dame.
Reese could see that the battle was not nearing the end. Lulu was pulling on the reins, her own stride quickening in the excitement up ahead. Reese shook her head and dashed the reins against the filly's pearl neck and sent her. Reese barely hung on as Lulu surged forward with a kick she hadn't been expecting. The wand slim form of Lulu's encompassed the grass, closing the distance with an electrifying kick. Reese stared, quietly urging for a hole to open up. The equine beneath her was ready to take flight. A hallelujah prayer was cranked from her mouth as Mastermind and Crow broke apart briefly. Hands and feet worked together, pumping her crafty for more energy. Bella Luna responded like a rocket. She stormed across the grass, making up the two lengths and then some as she split both Crow and Mastermind.
Ripley and Maggie glanced at her in shock as Lulu surged right on by them, gunning it for Dame and Frozen Motion. They set their own horses to a drive, keeping their mounts at Lulu's haunches. But the battle up front was burning to a wild fire. Dame and Freeze were at each others throat. The burly dark bay filly wouldn't let Freeze by. Her wildly new talent clashed with his overwhelming class. Freeze was locked onto her, but he couldn't move ahead. She was considered a turf upstart and he a disrespected winner of two legs of the Turf Triple Crown. And she couldn't beat him. They were dead even. Brooks asked for more from Freeze and the gray dug deep to catch on. They were matched at nine furlongs, ten, eleven.
They surged together under the imaginary wire; Freeze just getting ahead of Dame by a whisker. They swept into the closing gallop, Lulu bursting behind them with a show of speed. The pearly filly beat out Mastermind and GS Royal Crown by a neck. Hoots rose up from the riders and hands clasped in excitement. The race had been unbelievable, quick and none of the horses were tired. Ripley grinned as she looked over her horses. Their eyes were bright and excitable. They looked glorious. She leaned down and rubbed Mastermind's shoulders and neck. He had plenty of room to grow. She kissed his chestnut hide, grinning. Wonderful. He would get his respect. Just like the rest of her string.