Brookson Wells eyed the shadowy figures of Ripley Marsh and the new guy from his spot at In Front's side. The blaze faced colt seemed nearly as interested, ears pricked and unmoving from the direction of the people. The bay colt mouthed the bit he had clenched in his maw, twitched his tail over his rump. The large horse seemed more than ready to get back into work, but first he had to deal with this intruder. In Front had become king of the palace recently and everyone, including the disgruntled fillies, knew it. Brooks patted the colt's neck, checked the tightness of the girth and walked down the hall. The blond guy nodded to Ripley and stuck his hand out to the slim, brown haired guy beside her. "Hello, Brookson Wells, assistant trainer." The brown haired guy cocked a brow over his hazel eyes and smirked. "David Carter, jockey." Brooks snorted, appreciated the steady hand he held and then released it. This David Carter guy passed for the moment. "I've watched you ride. You ride good and tough. We need someone good and tough. We seem to be breeding a heavier kind of horse than the last three years. That's good, but with heavier horses, you need stronger bodies." Ripley lifted her brows, shrugged. "Don't want a weak horse. Strong of body and strong of mind is my goal." "It's a good one," David remarked. He shuffled his feet, a little uneasy when a silence fell over the trio. He was in a world far different than the one he'd known before. The jockey school had prepared him for riding, but navigating the pre-existing social order in racing stables had not been taught often enough. He tucked his hands in his pant's pockets and shifted his gaze down the row to the towering presence in between the cross-ties. This particular horse needed no introduction to David. He'd admired the powerfully built animal in his rapid ascent to the top of the dirt colt ranks. In Front had been a powerful horse in full run with a massive stride, a big heart and a furious competitiveness. The Touch Up son had been David's favorite to take the Kentucky Derby, but looking at him now in his kingdom... David could see that the early spring version simply could not compare. His muscles were tense beneath his dappled light bay hide, his head was lifted at a challenging angle and his form seemed to promise ferociousness. His shoulders were large and his chest wide and deep. He was a magnificent specimen and he knew it. "Boy, he looks like a million bucks," David muttered. Ripley followed the kid's gaze to In Front, admired the horse herself. "Yes... He really came to hand after his vacation. He's getting too tough on the hands so it's time to get him back to the track. "He'll be your mount for the day." Surprise was an inappropriate description for what he felt course through him. He would be riding IN FRONT? When did a kid like him get to ride a horse like that? A horse that had been a top Kentucky Derby prospect and had finished second or third in the classic dirt races he'd participated in, including the Derby, the Belmont, the Queen's Plate, and the Prince of Wales. No surprise was hardly adequate. Elation, ecstasy, purpose and wonder were better terms. "Wow... Well I gratefully accept that proposition..." Ripley smiled, "Good. You'll be facing off against Reese and Laura today. The Devil's Hourglass and Wishing For A Heroine. It'll be over the dirt, but don't think you'll get off easy. Hourglass is nearly as effective over dirt and Heroine is as versatile as they come." She nodded to Brooks and marched off out of the barn to greet her female riders. Reese and Laura did their best not to crane their necks to get a look at the new guy. Laura told herself it wouldn't really matter til they hit the track. She liked knowing her opponent so the uncertainty threatened her. She turned the filly beneath her to face the track as Ripley emerged and climbed up on The Devil's Touch who'd been standing patiently beside her daughter, Hourglass. Laura admired the pair, was stunned by the shocking resemblance. Mirror images of power and impressive courage. That was the breeding result of Witch Creek Stable. "Let's go down to the track." The trio walked down the hill. Heroine pranced more than walked, her quick feet sifting through the dirt. She seemed to shake with excitement at being back home. She'd stepped off the trailer and walked in as though she'd never left. Laura enjoyed the sizzling energy beneath her. The filly was a grade three horse now, but her attitude had not changed a bit since her youth. Laura was excited to get on the quick filly. It was refreshing to get on new mounts. Reese was not new to Hourglass per say as she'd been galloping her for months. This would be her first workout aboard the tough bay filly. The three year old's eyes blazed with intensity as she stepped foot onto the track. She tossed her forelock, bearing her large white star. Reese nursed the filly along, trying her best not to give her too much freedom. Hourglass tended to be stronger in the mornings, more speed frenzied than she was in the afternoon. Today was going to be a fast workout with Heroine in the group. In Front was not a keyed up runner. Reese expected Carter to be working from start to finish. David eased the towering colt onto the track, let him move into a purposeful canter. Boy he just seemed to roll along like a comfortable chair. David could have sat the easy gait, but didn't dare with Ripley watching. The woman cantered up alongside him on the incomparable Devil's Touch. The bay mare, dam to Hourglass, looked every inch the stunner she'd been as a runner. Ripley nodded to David, "Just a six furlong workout. The other two already have their instructions." He nodded, looked back and guided In Front to the rail, allowing him to lengthen his stride to catch up with the fillies. The blaze faced colt strode over the course, mane and tail billowing out behind him, and truly impressed David. There was immense power beneath his gleaming light bay hide. In Front burned bright like a candle. Heroine and Hourglass cruised into the backstretch, battling for the lead. Heroine was so determined to knock Hourglass off of her pedestal. Laura had a tight hold on the filly, cursing her lack of gloves. Heroine was pushing the limits of speed here, but Hourglass' innate fiery nature did not help. The darker bay filly beneath Laura zipped over the ground, legs blurring beneath her lean body. Her eyes were bright with excitement and her happiness was almost tangible. Reese found no need to hold Hourglass back. This was the pace that the broad shouldered filly wanted to set and she moved effortlessly despite the quickness of the work. The Sand Storm daughter flew over the course, thunderous as she bulled her way through the first four furlongs. Her pace did not slacken as she rounded the turn, a half length ahead of Heroine. The Everyday Hero daughter fought on bravely, but slowed on the turn, not wanting to head breakneck for the stretch. Laura peeked under her arm, spotted the gigantic form of In Front three lengths back. He was closer than she'd expected. Obviously the new rider wasn't impeding him any. David peered between the pricked ears of his mount, absolutely thrilling as the colt picked up speed with ease. He was lighter on his feet than he'd looked in the videos. He was agile enough to move side to side on command and David liked the versatility. He moved his hands up the colt's neck, kept the inside rein tighter to keep him to the rail. The fillies were running three lengths ahead but the distance seemed very little to this massive striding animal. Ripley and Brooks watched in approval as David swung In Front off the turn and let him run the final furlong. Hourglass and Heroine reacted to the sudden move, gunned into a new gear. Hourglass was getting the better of the leaner filly, but she definitely was not happy to find another assailant running to Heroine's other side. The burly colt seemed to lay briefly when he reached his opponents, but a quick slap on the neck with David's hand sent him onward, leaving him to engage Hourglass. The star marked granddaughter of Touch Up fought bravely the final three hundreds, just beating out In Front's stupendous charge. The light bay marched on in his gallop, beating out Hourglass in the gallop out. He coasted along in the gallop, giving David Carter chills. Now this was a nice individual. "That works for me," Ripley said as she turned The Devil's Touch to face to Brooks. The blond man nodded, eyes betraying the excitement he felt. "If it works for you, it works for me."
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"This is going to be an all hands on deck kind of workout," Brooks grunted as he tightened the girth. The plain bay stallion shivered beneath his palms, out of irritation. His mass was incredible in size and the power was so obvious. Amarillo Sky was a magnificent creature and one win off from grade one status. He was ranking up quietly while the current titans of the track battled head to head. He had yet to step foot in the Horse Of The Year ring, but next year he would do so. The unmarked son of Augusto was coming into his own with every passing day. Justin was thinking similar thoughts as he adjusted the head stall on his newest mount. He'd watched In Front from afar as he fought the likes of Limited Edition and Anodyne, but had never beaten them. Other obligations had allowed him to finally take the ride on the stunning blaze-marked bay. In a monthly dirt race against older grade two horses, In Front rocketed to victory and taken his seventh career win. The win had allowed Justin to keep the mount and he was not going to fail the big horse in their next start. The Red Legend Derby was coming up tough with the likes of Limited Edition and Reflected In Water entered, but Justin had faith. Those two horses were strong, but Limited Edition had faced a less mature In Front in the Derby and Belmont. This time In Front was a different kind of animal. The kind of animal that took down Horse Of The Year victories without turning a hair. His gallops had been sensational of late. He went in strong, came out strong and didn't seem as though he could blow out a match. The son of Touch Up looked every bit the powerhouse creature he was meant to be. Today would be a true test of will and Justin was anticipating a great match race. Ripley watched the two horses as they strode through the barn doors. In Front towered over Amarillo Sky, but Amarillo carried himself like a brawler. In Front strutted while Amarillo Sky stalked. In Front snorted through his nostrils, blowing steam into the cool morning air as Justin settled himself into the saddle. The horse felt fresher than usual. The drop in temperature could do wonders for a beefier horse like this one. Sleek as a fish, Amarillo Sky darted past In Front to get to the dirt track first. He pranced with his neck bowed and his eyes gleaming with excitement. He was a furious kind of horse. Every step was precise and intended. He never put a foot out of line unless challenged by another. In Front let out a whistle in fury as Rillo bolted into a head strong gallop. Brooks glanced under his arm upon hearing thunderous hoofbeats. Make no mistake, In Front was the hulk in this matchup. His shoulders moved powerfully beneath his gleaming, dappled hide as he roared up to Rillo's side. Justin kept himself upright in the saddle. Barely, but he was managing. In Front ran with his head low, while Rillo ran with arrogance and kept his head high. The older horse galloped lightly on his toes while his partner thundered away. Brooks kept his hands light as the pair cruised into the backstretch, Rillo a half-length in front. He wasn't wild like usual. Perhaps he sensed a dangerous energy within the blaze-marked colt. Usually, Rillo was running his partners out of their shoes, but not today. He lingered like a predator, waiting to strike when his companion grew tired and he could stab him in the back. Brooks patted the horse's neck, impressed by the horse's rating. If only they could duplicate such effort on the track, they would have a dangerous horse. Justin was impressed by the toughness of his mount. In Front kept up gamely with Amarillo Sky, despite the other horse's higher cruising speed. In Front was on the bit and pressing the older horse down the stretch. His hoofbeats were loud, but he was moving quite effortlessly. Justin leaned closer to the big colt's neck, satisfied when he switch leads and actually commanded Amarillo Sky's full attention into the backstretch. Ripley was mighty impressed with In Front's turn of foot to assault Rillo. She'd watched the stallion throw his head in surprise, but it didn't last for long. She snapped her watch at the start of the four furlong workout, though she didn't have to look to know it would be fast. Brooks let the reins soar between his finger tips, knew Rillo needed every bit of freedom he could get to beat In Front. In Front was not the type to blaze you into the ground. Rather, he was the type to keep coming at you until all of your resources were gone and his were just being tapped. Rillo was stamina laden and Brooks thanked the Lord for that. The way In Front was running suggested he had plenty of gas in the tank. Rillo pulled to a length lead on the turn, his more agile frame cutting the corner pointedly. Justin took full advantage of Rillo's move by cutting the corner as well with In Front. The brawny colt straightened up, immediately was assailed by one smack of the whip to his haunches. Justin was nearly stunned when the colt rocketed by Amarillo Sky just seconds later. "Holy shit!!" he shouted as the horse barreled down the stretch with his ears pinned. Brooks niggled Rillo for more, but felt a sense of doom as In Front continued down the stretch all alone, pouring on the speed. Rillo's eyes were filled with fire and fury as he crossed the wire three lengths behind his workmate. His muscles were taut with every ounce of hatred he could muster. This time it was Rillo who screamed for In Front as the muscled colt headed off of the track first. Friendly fire had turned into all out revenge for Amarillo Sky. There was a lot of shifting going on around the Witch Creek barns. Horses were moving in and out for their days work. Some were leaving to Green Horse Fields and some were returning from The Wire for brief respites away from the race track. Brooks loved the action of the place. For all of its business, no one was ever raising their voice or confused. Ripley Marsh ran a tight, effective ship, but a compassionate one. If anyone had an issue, the head honcho was brought in immediately. It was her place and her passion. He smiled as she walked into the barn leading a dripping Hourglass. The bay daughter of Sand Storm looked beautiful after her workout, muscles standing out beneath glistening hide. She paraded by, nickering at Lethal Dose and pinning her ears at Optimus. Brooks let the horse star marked colt step back. Hourglass simply didn't tolerate the horses below her on the rung. It was better not to force the issue. He petted the winner of the Tick Tock Sprint, smiled when the colt rubbed his head against his chest. Optimus was a sweet one when he wasn't jumping all over the place. "For your workouts, I just want a good five furlong maintenance move. A half mile gallop is all that's necessary. Until next week, they'll be getting 2 minute lick miles so this effort really is just to open them up." Ripley stopped beside In Front, leaning down to check the cut he sustained in his turf race last out. He'd performed well for not handling the surface and the injury. "He's good to go." She looked up as Lethal Dose followed In Front out, a testy look on her face. "Don't let her go too fast, Laura." Ripley kissed Brooks before following them. He grinned stupidly after her. Happy to have her back. It'd been a long, cold year in Year Thirteen. Now she was his girlfriend and they were doing better than ever. Just as they should have been doing all along. "Like you, small fry. Let's go show these big horses who the real champ is." Optimus bobbed his head, pranced on his toes as he headed out of the barn. The Shiver Me Timbers colt was becoming a favorite of Brooks. He had a happy go lucky attitude and a good brain. He was malleable and brave and he could run the hooves off most other horses in the homestretch. Always a plus. Justin felt back where he belonged aboard the tall, handsome In Front. The huge colt was the type of horse he loved to ride. He was tough, durable and a tank. He stood proudly at the top of the path, soaking in the early morning sun. In Front let out a challenging trumpet, pinned his ears when it was answered by Lethal Dose and his sire, Touch Up. Laura patted Lee's neck, laughing. "He's not talking to you!" The filly stared coldly in In Front's direction, unimpressed. She wasn't a fan of the big horse. He'd been her workout partner for the past month and he was too annoying. Laura could understand the sentiment. She felt the same way about Brooks. She snickered when the man sent her a look and stated, "Well, might as well get going." The bay trio high-stepped down the path on to the track. All of their ears pricked simultaneously. Taboo was flying around the track, gray hide glimmering like a lake. The riders waited until the Everyday Hero filly flitted by before asking their horses to move out at an easy gallop. Lethal Dose assumed the lead, ears pinning back into her mane. She was more high strung than the two males, though definitely not the fastest right out of it. Optimus was the prince of fast in the workout. He ran with his chin tucked to his chest, muscling his way forward as if he were bigger than his 15.3 height. In Front lumbered along at the back, settled and easy-going as ever. He was a tough horse to ride, but once focused, it was more like point and shoot. He cruised along behind the pair, happy to not be running head to head with Lethal Dose. The filly was becoming tougher with every win and In Front was tired of losing to her. It just made her even harder to deal with. Justin let the reins loose as the heavy colt changed leads going into the backstretch. Half mile was officially up. And just like that, Lee leaped into the bit and tore off with Optimus on her tail. The filly became the epitome of racehorse as she soared across the track. Her body was neatly parallel to the track, completely extended. She had a serious look in her gaze that said she meant business. Optimus settled on her outside, pacing her like a predator to prey. He'd seen an increase in confidence as well. He was faster and more mature. He rolled along, tucking neatly to her hip as she trucked through the first three furlongs. Boy this horse could just cruise, Justin thought as In Front marched to his own beat behind the faster horses. He was such a good horse. So comfortable and such a confidence booster. In Front charged forward, eyes gleaming as the leaders launched into the turn. He was revved and it showed in the sweeping movement that took him from five lengths back to two and gaining. The blaze faced colt waited until the stretch before he swung out, listening perfectly to Justin's commands. Brooks sensed trouble when In Front rolled up on his outside and Lee came to Optimus' shoulder. The bay filly could be dirty in intimidation tactics. Just as Laura went to pull Lee off Optimus, the Lethal Knack filly firmly pinched him back. Optimus skipped backward, breaking his momentum enough that the larger horses narrowly missed slamming each other. In Front roared by, now pursued by a furious Lethal Dose. Cursing, Brooks winged Optimus to the center of the track and let the reins soar. With his typical flying stride, the Shiver Me Timbers colt burst forward as though he'd been standing still. In a matter of blurry strides, Optimus was up to In Front's outside and sandwiching him in tight. Lee had the lead again thanks to her quicker turn of foot, but the colts gained rapidly. The world was shaking for all involved as they soared through the line. And on the sidelines, Ripley was clapping like a fool. Now that was a terrific way to start the closing portion of the racing year. July Week Twoman hunt"I swear that this filly is tired of loosing," Laura growled as she tightened the girth to the racing saddle. She could hear the blood pounding in Lee's veins beneath that molten silver-brown hide. Lethal Knack had passed on some vengeful traits to his three year old daughter and it seemed it was only a matter of time before she acted on them. "I mean, seriously. She scared Battle Wings and she's been working out against our top tier horses ever since her return. How the hell are we being shut out every single race?" Brooks thought it was funny that the two completely opposite personality people had settled on the same thought. Laura would never have spoken this way to Brooks' girlfriend, Ripley, who was also the owner, but she could talk to him. He was more like a brother even though he was the assistant trainer at Witch Creek. Ripley had ranted to him last night and told him specifically to make sure that In Front and Lethal Dose got a good strong workout. She faith in both horses to notch that next victory, but she wanted a four furlong lung opener on each horse. A lung opener would be no problem for In Front. The blaze faced son of Touch Up stood head high and eyes full of eagerness and excitement. His body shook with it and his feet kept lifting as though he were marching in place. He'd finished second behind Anodyne in the Queen's Plate, but something told Brooks that the colt wanted more distance. It was likely In Front could snag the victory in the Prince of Wale's Stakes if perfectly trained for it. He'd been perfect in his gallops since the Queen's Plate, but he'd been perfect in every workout this season. He was on the edge of grade and Brooks certainly felt there was no more deserving horse than In Front to step up. He'd tangoed in every dance this year and proved he was a true battle-tested warrior. Lethal Dose was getting there. The bay filly had been stopped last time out with a disappointing fourth place finish, but perhaps she'd disappointed herself more than her handlers. All Laura knew was that the three year old was now breathing fire and today's workout was going to be a fireworks show. Lethal Dose snorted, bobbing her head as if she knew Laura's train of thought. The quartet strode out of the barn, humans mounting up as soon as possible. Lethal Dose let out a commanding neigh, pawing the ground fiercely enough to have In Front assessing her twice. The blaze faced colt snorted, eyes blazing at her in disgust of her newfound energy and strength. He practically pulled the reins through Brooks' hands, storming down the dirt path with fury. Brooks shook his head, cast a half-smile in Ripley's direction. The woman leaned against the railing of the track, green eyes following every move the horses made. She expected good performances and Brooks knew that she would get great performances. Lee bolted into a hand-gallop the minute she slipped by In Front. Her strides were powerful and purposeful, her neck extending so that her head was even with her shoulder. This was new. Usually, Lee was the one standing around for days. Instead, she cruised over the dirt course, kicking up massive clumps in her wake. The Lethal Knack filly was feeling murderous today. Hopefully, In Front would not be taken prisoner. Laura knew Lethal Dose would be a filly to reckon with. She had faith and pride in this whirlwind mount. Perhaps the press and competition did not see it, but someday they would. Brooks let out a low whistle when Lethal Dose cruised into the turn all alone on the lead. She going smoothly, tail flicking above her rear. Obviously, In Front would be closing as he was already five lengths behind. The big, lumbering animal rolled over the course with ears locked on the target. He mouthed the bit, chomping the aluminum with powerful bites. He was practically saying, "let me at her." Brooks kept the reins as loose as possible without letting the Touch Up colt soar. Laura did not bother to restrain Lethal Dose. It was too obvious that the filly would canter off and not get as hard a workout as necessary because In Front would not be pressuring her until the homestretch. She let the reins fly between her fingers, turning this four furlong blitz into a steady mile clip. Ripley would potentially kill her, but even the head trainer, unbeknownst to Laura, was nodding in approval from the rail. It was too late now anyway. Lethal Dose had a hold of the bit and she was on a tear. Brooks swore under his breath, feeling In Front pick up the pace in response to Lethal Dose's quick turn of foot. Change of plans. Luckily, In Front was not a one run closer. He was a grinder or a stalker usually. He did not need pace, but now he had it. The colt bounded over the earth, strides huge and effortless as he pursued the filly he'd underestimated. Lethal Dose spun around the turn, head up and mouth agape, clearly enjoying her run. She'd rolled through the first two furlongs and was just gliding at this point. Her ears had begun to flicker though and Laura knew that could only mean one thing. The unrelenting, powerful charge of In Front. In Front was potentially the second best colt in the country and there was a reason for that. Laura asked Lee to pick it up and she willingly responded. Her strides became fiercer as she whirled into the homestretch, ears bobbing back to lay flat on her neck. Brooks wanted to cackle maniacally as his strong horse wheeled up on Lethal Dose's outside. The colt's eyes were blazing as he drew alongside of her, his massive body dwarfing her smaller, but coltish one. Brooks knew he could tap the gear at anytime, but surprisingly In Front was not going by easily. Brooks' imaginary laugh turned into a grimace as Lethal Dose rallied on the inside to take the lead again, not budging. In Front geared up again, drawing the match to even, but Lethal Dose kept picking up speed. She was battling fiercely and now so was In Front. The two bays roared down to the wire, ears pinned, eyes fierce. No one was waving the white flag of surrender. The pair surged beneath the wire together, nose and nose. Brooks would have sworn Lethal Dose had nabbed In Front. When he glanced up, he knew she had. Laura never wore smug smiles when she lost. Ripley thrilled at the power of the three year olds as they cantered back into the first turn. Critics would say it was a poor workout for In Front if he couldn't even beat a maiden winner, but Ripley thought, perhaps they would be watching the rise of Lethal Dose as a runner in a few months. Workouts that ended in :10 2/5th second final furlongs usually meant that the subjects had plenty of speed and were coming into form. Tucking the watch into her pocket, Ripley prepared to watch her dirt three year olds rise from the ashes. paranoid heartRipley couldn't help but snarl as she raced through tacking up Cross My Heart for the workout. Cross was edgy as all get out thanks to Ripley's rush job. She danced between the cross-ties, throwing her head and flicking her tail in displeasure. She liked when Ripley took her time, became frustrated by all the action. It was times like this when Ripley could appreciate the black mare. Two years ago, Cross would have been screaming and cowering between the ties, fearful of all humans and ropes. Today, her eyes glittered with defiance and she was ready to pour gasoline on the fire if pushed too far. Across the way, Maggie was cranking the girth up on Paranormal Hunter. The bay filly bared her teeth in fury, launching both back hooves off the ground and barely missing Brooks as he dashed from the office to the stall of Lethal Dose. All four horses that were being worked today had an hour before the van picked them up. It had been a misunderstanding, but they couldn't miss the van into The Wire. Four big races in the next couple weeks meant being on time and no mess-ups. Obviously the second one wasn't going to happen, but the first still could. "All right, Rips. I'm all set." Maggie grunted as she hurtled onto the back of Paranormal Hunter. The daughter of Flash Limit's pinned her ears, but spun on command to trot out of the barn. Cross was practically in motion by the time Ripley scrambled onto the slim mare's back. The black horse did not suffer fools, not even a fool she adored. Ripley settled in, setting the mare into a canter after her lumbering stable-mate. Cross My Heart was a devilishly fast horse. She seemed to fly over the ground, breaking the barrier with every swift stride. She was a thrill to watch and amazingly durable. Cross had everything going for her. Looks, speed, pure courage. She never seemed to fail to be in contention at the wire and was classic enough to last from five furlongs to a mile. She was coming off a dominating victory in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf and would look to continue her rivalry with Innocent Passion in the Nearctic Stakes. Ripley relished the idea of taking on that foe, especially with Cross rounding back into her top form cycle. Maggie was getting a different feeling from Paranormal Hunter. The big bay daughter of Flash Limits was not going to wow you with her efforts in her workouts. She was not absolutely brilliant by any means until you set a target in front of her and asked her to give chase. Only in races was Para absolutely brilliant. She had a turn of foot like no other horse on the current Witch Creek roster. It always appeared that she wasn't going to be there at the end and then suddenly she was battling for first. She was a unique horse, possibly the most bad tempered on the current string. Maggie let her hands slide down the powerful three year olds neck as Cross My Heart surged by to assume command over the second hill. Para's ears flipped down momentarily, but her strides never quickened. To Para's benefit and her opponent's downfall, Para never got riled up in the beginning of the race. Ripley knew that the only way to beat Para was to run her into the ground. There was no doubt in Ripley's mind that she couldn't leave that Flash Limits filly floundering. She had the right horse to do so, but both of them had beaten Innocent Passion. Both of them were absolutely lethal and Ripley had trained Para to too many victories to underestimate that foe. She was deadly from six to eleven furlongs. How many horses could do that? The mare and filly traveled one-two over the course, each kicking up clods of turf in their wake. One seemed to just glide through the atmosphere while the other scared away the animal life with her loudness. Yet, both horses were deadly in their own way. Maggie and Ripley were poised in the saddle, hands as still as possible as the three furlong flat neared. It was almost time to see what each horse had to offer. Maggie pressed the button as soon as Para reached the crest of the hill. Her eyes blazed with fury at being awoken, but when she recognized her foe, Para was more than ready for take off. Cross was hard to beat in a three horse workout. She would be even tougher in a two horse workout. The black mare ran with her head and tail high, not even full out yet. It was time to strike. Ripley heard the threatening hoofbeats and did not glance back. Cross's ears pinned in a furious reaction. She was impressed at all by the sounds of those running hooves. It meant only one thing that the freight train was going to once again push her to her limit. Ripley leaned close, allowing the reins to soar through her gloved fingers. It was like riding a jet. Only Cross could throw Ripley back in the saddle after already being at a gallop. Maggie rode Para hard through the first furlong, egging the bay filly to pick it up. She was snorting fiercely, her feet hitting the ground loudly. She was not happy to be under pressure, but she would not argue. She sensed the looming danger of letting Cross My Heart loose on the lead. It took Paranormal Hunter a while to reel Cross in, but she was at the older horse's barrel half-way through the final furlong. Cross's eyes flashed with annoyance, her nostrils flaring to take in maximum air. She pushed on, refusing to allow the Flash Limit's filly to get closer. Ripley and Maggie fell silent, understanding that there was no need to push anymore. The horses would do their job. Ripley hit the stopwatch as the pair passed through the imaginary wire. Her eyes drifted down, nodding in approval. The last three furlongs had been in :36.48 seconds. Flying after a mile and a quarter gallop. Both horses were beyond ready to prove themselves in their separate races. It left Maggie Reynolds wondering what would happen if Cross My Heart and Paranormal Hunter met on the biggest stage. Shrugging, the blond woman let it float to the back of her mind. It would never happen. |
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