The two bay mares stood silently on the track, heads tracking the running horses with curiosity. The thicker mare's eyes gleamed with fire and irritation while the slimmer mare's blazed with keenness. The riders sat quietly as they waited for the running pair to complete their workout. The blue eyed riders barely moved a muscle aboard their horses, relaxed in their own resolute stillness. It was a noble posture that the two brown horses carried themselves. One was a known champion due to her unbelievable performances on the racetrack, while the other was only known for her regal pedigree. Someday that may change, but the latter mare didn't know she wasn't a queen. Miss Josephine behaved like one, moved like one, and was a dominating presence on the track. Laura stroked the long black mane, felt the power of the Passionate Class mare. Josey tossed her head, eyes blazing furiously. She wasn't a filly to be coddled and held close. She was an independent horse with an independent mindset. Laura leaned back, turned her gaze to Maggie Reynolds. "This should be an interesting workout." "Just lean forward and enjoy the rush." Maggie cocked a brow, blue eyes scouring the track. "That is if we ever get on the track ourselves." Laura snorted, snuggling into her wind jacket. It was a freezing cold day to be sitting on the dirt track waiting for the yearling set to finish. Laura did not like sitting around for the yearlings. They were a joy to work with, but their workouts and time on the track always seemed to take longer than necessary. Enrapture and Awestruck flew around the far turn, attracting the attention of the older mares. Their ears shot straight up in acknowledgement of the galloping horses. Maggie was impressed with both fillies, especially Awestruck. The daughter of Touch Up looked absolutely powerful out there, her long stride covering the ground impressively. Her ears darted about on her head, giving the impression that she still wasn't focused. Maggie glanced down the track toward Malcolm aboard Jabberwock and Ripley aboard The Devil's Touch, another daughter of Touch Up. Both of them looked impressed, though Ripley was making her usual internal notes. You could tell by her eyes. The light bay form of Enrapture gritted down and got the better of True, her ears pinned and eyes focused. If there was a more focused yearling at the moment, Maggie wanted to meet him or her. Ennie already knew the meaning of racing, even though she had yet to go to an actual racetrack. It scared Maggie to know that both fillies had room for improvement when they were already so frighteningly good. Laura nudged Maggie and nodded to Ripley who was trotting toward them. The Devil thundered over the earth, tossing her head and proving slightly difficult. The retired broodmare looked more than ready to hop back into her former career of racing. She'd been a brilliant horse in her running days and had passed that brilliance to her offspring. If only she hadn't tried to kill them... "I want a brisk seven furlong breeze. Don't worry about the lead up, gallop as you please into the first furlong and then focus them on the job. I want a solid final half." The riders nodded, bumped fists with Brooks and Reese as they came off the track. Paranormal Hunter jumped right into the bit, moving more forcefully than she had all season. Her break had done her a world of good and now she looked ready to rock and roll. She would have to be ready off of this workout to handle the field in the La Costa Stakes. Her big lumbering form would need the race, but her innate talent and class could be more than enough to handle the field. She didn't need the victory. It was simply a stepping stone to the Wire Green Mile. A win wouldn't hurt though. Miss Josephine skipped alongside Para, her ears lost in her mane and her stride purposeful. She was getting back into racing as much as the other three year old filly, but her goals were simply less lofty. The goal for Josey was getting back in the winner's circle and to take up the mantle for next season. Maggie and Laura both hoped the Night Stalker grand-daughter would step into the lofty shoes of Whipped Cream come Year Fifteen. Grade four to grade one was the goal. The filly was certainly talented enough to do it. Laura patted the horse's neck, moved her hands up the filly's neck and set her down for the first furlong of the seven furlong breeze. Paranormal Hunter fell back when Miss Josephine took off. The heavy mare watched the fleet footed horse with keen eyes, but it was clear that she would be pursuing her in the end. Maggie let the Flash Limits daughter gather herself beneath her, enjoying the rocking horse movement. Para had a sweet, sweet stride and she used it to her full advantage. If she didn't have put effort in, chasing a much quicker horse, she surely would not. Para was economical if not fast at the get-go. Laura let the Passionate Class mare cruise along, impressed with her natural speed. She was a closer in her races, but she seemed to enjoy this leading stuff. Laura kept her hands relaxed on the reins as the filly clicked off impressive fractions. She pulled to a three length advantage on Para, but stayed there at Laura's asking. Both fillies needed the competition at the end of this seven furlong demonstration. Ripley and Malcolm watched as Miss Josephine skipped through four furlongs and into the fifth. "Ticking off the time easily. Third off the layoff may just be getting this one back in shape, Marsh." Mal steadied Jabberwock beneath him as the bay filly rolled into the far turn with Para kicking into gear behind her. Sometimes Jabberwock forgot he was a track pony. Maggie's eyes dried out in the face of the rushing wind. Para's heavy body powered off the turn, ears pinned back in her mane as she, finally, remembered her job. The bay roared after Josey, hooves churning through the dirt. The surface was not much to her liking because of its depth compared to the springy turf. Her heart was impressive for she not only overcame the surface, but also collared Miss Josephine with a half-furlong to go. The white-marked filly on the inside responded with a gutsy rebuttal, but she could not hold off the hurricane to her outside. The pair galloped through the wire, only getting stronger into the first turn. "Para needed that one. Definitely needs to get back running though." "It'll be nice to have her back on the racing roster. Third off the layoff for her will be the Breeders' Cup." "She'll definitely be ready. But Miss Josey's ready right now. That was impressive to say the least."
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