Laura and Brooks watched as Spotlight Pride and Casualty of War marched off the tracks. The chestnut and dark colts reared and bucked, looking as though they could go another round. Sultan looked furious enough to knock Pride down where he stood. The hulking two year old was becoming a handful and when he was pissed, very much hard to handle. Justin kept the colt in line as they passed through the gap by Sun King and Optimus. Sun King pawed the ground, flexed his neck muscles and bugled his irritation at Sultan and Pride. Pride danced away nervously, uneasy now that his second foalhood bully was so close. Optimus remained the electric bulwark between the trio, his eyes rolling with excitement and confusion. Laura felt like she was on top of a bulldog. Optimus' muscles coiled beneath her and threatened to punch in rebellion as King was forced into a trot onto the track. He was a hard to handle type and his ego was riding high after his latest impressive victory. He'd been a spring in his workout before that race, but today he felt like a rocket. If anything, Optimus was only getting stronger and with Mastermind and Forbidden To Fly retiring, he would be ready to step into the elite ranks of male sprinters. Sun King strutted onto the track, head high and tail waving like a bloody flag. He was ever the arrogant son of a gun and he knew that his prowess was unmatched. He had has much brawn as Casualty of War, but the intelligence was more quick and clever. King snorted furiously when Brooks turned him to face Ripley at the rail. The woman nodded in approval, set her hands on the rail. "Time to let him get his irritation out." Optimus slid onto the track, legs always seeming to be ahead of his compact frame. His ears pricked down the track, taking in its overwhelming emptiness. The bay son of Shiver Me Timbers looked tough beneath Laura with his muscles tense beneath his healthy hide. Laura patted the colt's neck, careful to keep it gentle enough so that he did not take it as a cue to run. When he didn't budge, Laura turned her attention to Ripley. "Three furlongs, do the quickest running in the stretch. Shouldn't be too tough for them. Just watch them on the turn. I don't want to see them injured. We know they can run fast." The riders nodded and turned their horses down the track. Neither colt had to be told twice to go for the instant moving air hit in the face, they were off. Optimus out-footed Sun King at first, his dark eyes blazing with wild excitement. Laura felt her breath catch in her lungs at the violent burst of speed. Optimus didn't get nearly enough respect for his speed or brilliance. The bay colt had taken advantage of the speed crashing and burning in the first leg of the Dirt Sprinter Crown. It hadn't been that he was just bloody faster than everyone else, had it? Laura had her own theories and they placed Optimus higher than other sprinters. He hadn't been as mature then, but he sure as hell was now. King galloped along beside Optimus, ears pricked in surprise. It was rare that he was ever second on the break, but his large stride easily caught him up to the bay colt. The chestnut horse rolled over the ground, a powerhouse beneath his silent rider. Brooks appreciated the impressiveness of the young animal. He'd grown incredibly over the course of his two year old season. He seemed more physically advanced and confident. There was just something special to this particular creature. He had the gifts of El Sol Del Mar's early speed with both of his parent's ability to carry it farther than most. The pair of horses strode through the backstretch at an impressive clip. Ripley was surprised to find that they moved in tandem for she'd expected Optimus to linger back. There was no speed to challenge King though and loose speed was deadly. Laura must have changed tactics. The bay colt bounded along, clipping off fractions with ease and confidence despite the heavy pressure to his outside. Laura had to admit she was content with Optimus tonight. He was just an awesome horse. He was the type that could brutalize you on the front end or run you down in the stretch. Today, he would keep pace with a horse that few had managed to beat this season. Sun King could have cared less what kind of horse ran to his inside. He knew he could beat them. He had the confidence of a proven winner. It made him dangerous. But Optimus was dangerous at the moment as well. The bay colt bounded through the turn, ears pinning back in absolute focus. Laura shook him up off the turn and into the stretch, grinning from ear to ear as the colt roared to life. She leaned into his neck, hiding from the whipping wind and the cold snow. Snow battered the colt's chest as he covered the distance with lengthening strides. Sun King ranged up to Optimus' outside, neck bowed tight at the restraint. He floated to the middle of the track, legs pumping mightily beneath his powerful frame. Brooks' hands shook from the effort. He cursed and let the horse go. In a flurry of movement, the big horse gunned by Optimus, throwing his rival off. The stout bay colt responded with a furious rally, stretching his legs as far as possible. He would never be able to match the ease of King, but he sure as hell could match him in speed. Laura clung to the wild black mane as the colt whistled up the rail to battle head to head with Sun King. The two year old looked surprised, but did not give up as he found himself in a war. Ripley was grinning as the colts hit the wire together, their hoofbeats keeping time with their snorting. Battle tested and battle proven were those two horses. She was delighted to see some honest quality moving up to the fill the ranks. Damn good quality.
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