Laura saw her life flash before her eyes when Dirty Diana rose on her hind legs, pawing the air. The pink roan mare looked powerful and domineering at the end of the line. Her eyes rolled when Laura backed up, dragging the mare with her. The All For Glory daughter danced ungainly on her hind legs to the unhappiness of Ripley and Reese who watched the spectacle. When the mare finally came to earth, the two others in the group relaxed visibly. Cross snorted, eyes flashing at the foolishness of the other four year old. It was perfectly clear that Dirty Diana had come out of her last race foolishly frustrated. Enough seconds, she wanted a win. Ripley rode up to Dirty Diana, grasped the reins and shook her head. "Quit it, Di." Laura clambered aboard with the swift help of Justin. "I don't know, Ripley. She might be ready for a whole other season." The crew had been hemming and hawing for a long time on the destiny of Dirty Diana. They'd hoped she'd notch her grade one win long before now, hoped she'd take to the turf and discovered she preferred it like her half-sibling Ode To Glory. Now that her niche had been discovered, she was looking for that win. Laura took the reins up, shaking her head. "Sorry, Ripley. Sometimes I just forget how to handle that." Ripley tapped the girl's hand, smirked. "Sometimes I forget too and then you remember." Ripley nudged Cross along to a jog down the path. The black mare was really alert, ears pricked and muscles bunched. She was watching the pasture with an intent gaze. Ripley followed the look, spotted Sweeto Cheeto and Positively Precious playing along the fence line. With a flick of the reins, Cross' attention was returned to the track and suddenly she was a hell of a lot more focused. Her biological clock could be ticking, but her heart would forever be with the track. Bella Luna pranced onto the dirt, eyes darkening with dislike. She loathed the dirt. She was forced to work harder on the dirt in order to get that win. Reese was finding that the dirt was only furthering her form. She'd been virtually unbeatable since the turf track had closed for the winter. The near white mare tossed her black mane in defiance, but obliged Reese by moving into a strong hand-gallop. Dirty Diana rollicked along the inner rail, bucking and squealing like a little foal. Reese had a private laugh, enjoying the fact that Laura was getting all she could handle today. Cross lined out like a greyhound down the backstretch, ears pinned back into her mane. She had bloody fast speed, scary speed when she was feeling her oats. Today, she was cruising like the professional race mare she'd become. Ripley appreciated the transformation from frightened young two year old to ballsy older mare. She'd made a gamble taking this one in and now it was paying off. Now Cross was a champion for the ages and Ripley had experienced the success of a lifetime. Cross' savage head cocked outward when Bella Luna galloped up to her outside. Her eyes flashed, threatened physical action, but a soft nudge from Ripley kept the black in line. "Boy, you're full of yourself today, Diana," Laura muttered as the mare skipped around the first turn two lengths behind Cross and Bella. She was a heavy mare when she was on the bridle and today, she was pulling Laura out of the saddle. She rumbled over the course, stride lengthening in the backstretch. Her ears pricked and Laura sighed in relief. Suddenly, Diana picked up and relaxed. Laura flexed her fingers in thanks. It was to be a five furlong workout ending at the wire. Cross was going to light them up with Bella Luna not quite liking the surface change. The light gray mare would definitely be relieved to set foot on GHF's turf course. Dirty Diana would basically have to reel the black one in and Laura was more than ready to do so. Ripley released Cross and ducked, hair blowing back when the mare moved into a sprint. She had a quick turn of foot and would blaze race or workout start to finish. Her legs flew over the dirt, kicking up clumps in her wake. She was known for her turf racing, but her speed was just as lethal on the dirt. If she'd been able to have one more year, Ripley probably would have stuck her on the dirt to silence her doubters. Luckily for them, Cross was done for her career after the Breeders' Cup. Bella Luna tracked in second, her fluid striding slightly interrupted, but improving as she went along. She had a confidence about her that seemed to say she would run as well as she could on this foreign surface. Reese was proud of the gray's courage, loved her all the more for it. The gray leveled out in the third furlong, settling into her grand stride. Familiar with the dirt surface, Dirty Diana loomed an ominous presence as the mares headed into the far turn. Laura liked the power of the pink roan, recognized it as filthy speed when turned loose. The All For Glory mare was impressive as she skipped through the turn, slick as a fish. Laura let her go right before the homestretch, grinning from ear to ear when she exploded and swarmed Bella Luna. A second later, the roan buried the future Hall Of Famer, and was off in pursuit of the second. Reese grunted when Bella Luna toiled in the pink roan's wake. She hustled the mare forward, satisfied when she responded with a grinding effort. She wasn't the claimer that Di had made her out to be. Come next race in the Melbourne Cup, Bella Luna would eat her rivals up and spit them out. Determination lined both of their faces as they gave futile chase to the dual surfaced horses. Cross' ears had pinned when Diana rushed to her outside and put her to a drive. Ripley was impressed by Dirty Diana, even more impressed when she managed to get head in front of Cross. Tough as nails, the black mare battled back with a fierce lunge, edging out the other mare. The pair continued past the wire, ears pinned as though they were keen on battling for ultimate supremacy. Chided by their riders, the pair turned back and caught up with Bella Luna who was covered in dirt. "Betcha she can't wait to get back to the turf." "Oh yeah. You can say that again."
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