July Week Fouruneasy peace"Don't get in her way, Brooks. She's very quick on the go and she pulls hard. She'll collect in your hands, but don't get her too forward..." Brooks sent a side-glance in Laura's direction as she paced around the barn and around Dirty Diana. She was like a mother hen with this mare. And here Diana was, just edgy as can be as her normal rider danced around like a whirling dervish. The mare nickered nervously as Laura stopped mid-pace and eyed her. "Why aren't you saying anything Brooks?" Laura hissed irritably. The blond man looked completely at ease as he adjusted Dirty Diana's bridle. The gray filly leaned into the more relaxing touch, keeping a keen eye on Laura for a hint of trouble. Laura took a deep breath at the look, rolled her shoulders. "Because Laura... you look like a nervous wreck. I'm not going to break her on you. Trust me. Di's been pretty sturdy so far despite being shifted around. She's as solid as a rock thanks to you." Laura eyed him warily. He shrugged. She was either suspicious of him or outraged. She was very much like the woman he was dating. The heart-breakers and hard-luck girls always seemed to join together in some way. "I promise I won't get in her way." That promise seemed to be enough because Laura was turned around and working on Vana before he could blink. He was actually quite eager to pit these two horses against one another. Both were very strong closers, but they had extremely different styles. Nirvana was a stout grinder who kept coming and coming, but needed plenty of encouragement. Dirty Diana, who had demonstrated in her recent start, was an explosive type of filly. She was daintier, but finally reaching the expectations that had been set by Akita Rose Stables. Brooks liked Dirty Diana's type of horse. She reminded him a lot of Ashes to Ashes, but she came from farther out. Nirvana was a source of absolute calm underneath Laura's hand as she guided the bay filly from the barn. The Gold Storm daughter was not a reflection of her rider. She existed in her own pool of collection and wisdom. She was Laura's rock and Laura wanted to do right by the blaze-faced filly. She wanted success for her project, for her first two year old horse ever. They had stalled a little bit in the win category, but Vana was as consistent as can be. Her more daintier opponents were precocious, but in the future they would have to be on look out. Vana was still maturing and her attitude was at a level of professionalism that the others' simply were not. The riders rode quietly down the path. Laura swayed to the easy-going stride of Vana while Brooks posted to Di's fleet-footed jog. Di was not one for slowing down. She was on the track minutes before Vana, circling and doing figure eights beneath her temporary rider. She looked fantastic and Laura knew she'd done right by asking Brooks to take over the reins for this workout. Vana moved into a heavy canter once she hit the dirt track, snorting at first. She was a tank, solid and powerful. She was efficient and confident. She cruised when Diana surged to her side, ears pinned and mouth agape. Diana could be so competitive sometimes. Brooks' hands were quiet at her withers, letting the mare have her head. The gray horse settled into stride, finally pricking her ears as she galloped into the backstretch. Vana settled back, not intimidated, but unwilling to keep pace with the All For Glory mare. Diana was more mature. She simply was too strong to go head and head. Laura grinned as Vana trucked willingly at Di's haunches, neck bowed and ears playing. She was well within her capabilities. The filly's dark eyes scoped out the track, taking in everything with her go-with-the-flow attitude. Boy, this mare was something awesome. Brooks hadn't known until Diana's start how fiercely she was training. He felt it now, coiled like a rattlesnake ready to strike. The mare kicked into another gear, quickening upon asking. He sent a quick glance at Laura. Perhaps she was more rateable than Laura had let on. Laura was keeping secrets. At the quick move, Laura knew her secret had been given away. Laura went to the whip the moment Diana set foot in the turn. Vana reacted with pinned ears and a swift stride. She pummeled the earth beneath her in pursuit of Dirty Diana. The gray roan was cruising effortlessly, tail flying behind her, ears pricked above her slim head. She was enjoying the run. Brooks was still above her. Brooks wondered at the mare's brilliance, could see why Laura was continually bringing up the idea of keeping her in training next year. The mare improved with every stride she took, growing stronger and stronger on the bit. Laura whirled Vana to the outside, thrilling at the fury that coursed through the Gold Storm filly. Once again, Vana was finding herself out paced. This time she would not go down a loser. The blaze-faced filly rumbled up to Diana's outside, not even reacting when the older mare pinned her ears. The horses charged down the course, nearly mirror images as they found the horse more challenging than expected. The pair bolted through the wire. Diana pulled herself up, eyes furious when Vana broke Laura's command and continued to stroll on by. The two year old was not going to go down without a fire, the farther the better. Her opponents were going to have to deal with her at some point... perhaps sooner than expected. steal the lightIt was hard to believe it had been three months since she'd last worked Vagabond. He was her Michael Jordan and he'd been sitting on the sidelines since May while everyone else was running to magnificent victories. That would all change now because Bond would not be catching a break until January of Year Fifteen. Maggie's blue eyes pivoted from the grooming tools to the dark bay colt standing between the cross-ties. His body rippled with muscle and his coat gleamed after a week of baths. He'd been a dirty pasture pet for a month and a half. Once Maggie had started working him again, the pasture pet had vanished and in his place stood an athletic machine. While Sun King and Saintly Touch were stealing hearts on the track, Maggie believed the best two colts had been sitting on the sidelines. Reese was following along with that vein of thought as she guided a cloth over ruby red hide. Spotlight Pride looked nothing short of the streaking miler he was. No one could catch the horse on the turf. He simply out-sprinted the fastest horses and out-lasted the ones with the most stamina. Today would be testing for him because he would not be the only speed horse and Vagabond was classy enough to catch him. Reese patted her sleek colt after pulling on her helmet. She adored Pride and trusted him to carry her through whatever storm awaited them. Spotlight Pride danced uneasily in the cross-ties, sweat filling the empty space between his hind legs. It was hard to believe that this was the battle-tested two year old who would face down dragons and demons. She smiled at Maggie. "He doesn't look like much, does he?" "He looks like the bane of Brooks and Amarillo's existences today," Maggie replied. Reese laughed. It was true. Amarillo Sky was nearly as uncontrollable as Spotlight Pride on the lead. The bay son of Augusto was a head-scratching, do-it-yourself, my-way-or-the-highway kind of horse. Pride was lenient if asked gradually for a slackening of speed. Brooks would have his hands full to say the least. The five year old stud was a time bomb waiting to explode and his recent losses were only going to fuel the fire. And the fire is raging, Brooks thought as he egged the stallion closer to the two year old barn. Amarillo Sky danced furiously beneath him, shoed hooves causing sparks to fly. His eyes blazed with fury and annoyance. His tail whipped back and forth, leaving welts on Brook's jeaned legs. Ripley sat quietly in the golf cart, eyes narrowed on the Augusto horse. Brooks knew what she was about to say and he smirked when her lips parted. "Yup, he needs a hard workout today." "He needs a gut-check," Brooks said through gritted teeth. Ripley hid the smile as the bay stallion reared and bolted three feet. He was a crazy horse. The horse slammed to a stop, ears pinning back at the sounds of other hoof beats. He spun, nearly throwing a tiring Brooks to the ground. "Don't you worry 'bout a thing," Reese crooned, "I've got just the horse to give your wild stud a gut-check." Maggie hung back, didn't bother hiding her laugh when Pride skittered away nervously. No, Maggie thought, Pride wasn't much of a brawny boy now, but he'd be something amazing on the three furlong flat. Ripley waited for the attention of her jockeys to return to her before giving orders. "Because we all know how this is going down, I will keep it short. Reese, try your damndest to get Pride relaxed and just off Ram's haunches. I want Ram to get his exercise, but we won't sacrifice Pride to do it. I expect you to attempt some control, Brooks, but if he fights let him go. We are not out to take away his speed. And if he wants to run uncontested do it. Just hang on. Maggie, keep close and start pushing up the last hill. Not enough to cause him to stampede down the other side, but enough to wake him up. Mile and a quarter gallop. Work 'em the three furlong flat. Under :12 second furlongs people." The riders exchanged looks as the auburn haired woman powered away on the golf cart. Like they would expect anything less out of Ripley Marsh. She knew they'd get the horses running. As one, the team turned toward the track and set the horses down into nice comfortable canters. Amarillo Sky bounded along with his neck bowed, snorting through his nostrils. He was such a monster. Brooks sincerely hoped that Ripley planned on keep the stallion in training for Year Fifteen. He was going to come into his own soon. The Augusto horse was training better and racing better with every start. The longer he ran the better. Pride and Bond settled into stride behind the exuberant stallion, ears flicking and eyes sweeping the green hills. Bond was so confident, so in the bridle even now despite looking around. Maggie had never felt better on a horse. On this horse, Maggie could conquer the world. Hopefully, the racing world would be watching his next couple races. Bond was only getting better. He rolled over the hills with ease, relaxed even when Spotlight Pride broke away to press Amarillo Sky. Maggie kept quiet, knowing the horse needed nothing until the final hill. Reese kept her hands at Pride's withers, breathing slow breaths. The chestnut two year old was settled at the older horse's hip. Not quite taking it to him. Amarillo Sky's left ear was locked on Pride though. The big bay stallion was well aware of his inside competition and he was most definitely not happy with the circumstances. Brooks jerked the right rein when the horse practically turned sideways to flash his teeth at Pride. The younger horse stuttered, nearly stumbling before bolting off. "Shit!" Reese muttered wildly under her breath. The Deathflash's Pride colt hurtled over the turf, now going head to head with a pumped up Ram. She could practically hear the snickering coming from the Augusto stud. He'd wanted to intimidate Pride into running and he had. Now both horses would pay the price when Bond rolled right on by. Maggie watched with wide eyes as Ram and Pride barreled over the hills ahead of Bond. The big bay two year old moved easily, quickening to stay in contact. She was impressed that he moved so effortlessly even at the faster pace. They would have to work harder to catch the speed balls. Ripley's plan had just about gone up in smoke. Brooks did not gather in the reins. Ram's best weapon was his fantastic cruising speed. Brooks would not take it away from the well-bred colt. If he did it would be as though he'd released the hounds of hell. Ram rolled impressively up the final hill, gathering steam despite nearing the grueling portion of the workout. It was a compliment to Pride that the chestnut was sticking with the more mature animal. Reese knew she was on a fantastic animal. No other horse would still have this much energy at the end of such a brilliantly fast gallop. She felt as though she were sitting on a keg of gun powder. Pride was on the muscle and he didn't bother to slow up much on the way down to the three furlong flat. Nimble where Ram and Bond were not, the miler colt skipped down the hill and onto the flat nearly a length and a half ahead of Amarillo Sky. Brooks allowed the reins to fly and sicced Amarillo Sky on the youngster. There hadn't been much of an option. The bay horse flew over the course, ears pinning back into mane. He was battling head and head with Pride long before the first furlong was finished. Maggie was feeling the same way as Brooks at this point. Bond needed to run to come out on top of this one. She'd been pushing him since the beginning of the last hill. He was absolutely revved and it showed in his bold strides. He was a large horse with a great big stride and he covered ground impressively. Maggie glanced up just in time to realize, Bond was about to run over Ram. With a flick of the reins, the bay colt skipped over the older horse's hooves and rolled alongside him. "Holy shit!" Ripley shouted from her side-line spot. The Winged Heir colt bounded right on by Amarillo Sky and Spotlight Pride to steal the victory by a half-length. She saw the shock in Reese and Brooks' bodies when the bay two year old continued on like it was nothing. Maggie smacked Bond's neck, thrilling at the adrenaline and power. "Wow big horse." Reese stroked Pride's neck, gasping for air. Her colt had done everything but win. Brooks sent a sideways grin her way. "I do believe that's the first time either of these horses have been headed in a workout." Reese smirked, "Means they'll be ready to roar next time out." "That's the plan." optimum secrecySilence was not an easy thing to come across at Witch Creek Stable unless you were up at the crack of down or roaming around in the middle of the night. Reese wondered many thing about Ripley's head these days, the most poignant thought had to do with training Taboo. The sleek gray filly was the most easily unnerved horse on the roster. She was never without sweat, never without a nervous tic of eyes or hooves. And for some reason on this very day, Ripley Marsh wanted the most nervous filly out of the barn in the middle of the afternoon when trailers were coming and going. Taboo's dark eyes traveled back and forth warily over the action going on in the transport circle. Saintly Touch, Sun King and Dirty Diana were returning from the tracks, all crowned winners in awe-inspiring performances. Taboo let out a wild whinny, shifting rapidly underneath Reese. Reese took a calming breath, forced the feeling down the leather reins and into her wily mount. Taboo was never going to be quiet and she was never going to be absolutely relaxed. She was the stereotypical hot-blooded thoroughbred. Reese just had to get used to it. The woman turned the dappling filly in a circle, nodding to Brookson Wells as he rode out of the shadows aboard Optimus Unstoppable. Small though he was, Optimus looked the picture of absolute health. His small white glinted beneath his well-braided fore-lock and his body gleamed like oiled wood. The Shiver Me Timbers colt would be heading to the Tick Tock Sprint, the first leg of the Triple Sprinter Crown, and he was carrying the hopes of Witch Creek with him. He was no Mastermind, but his season so far had been impressive, especially considering he'd only been a winner of one race coming into Year Fourteen. Brooks looked like a proud papa atop his thick freight train. He was developing Optimus into something Kirsten Jade with Akita Rose Stables would have been proud to race herself. Optimus touched noses with Taboo, not rattled at all. He was an uppity horse himself, but at home, he was different. Brooks liked the confidence that rippled through Optimus, poured out of his body. The horse was coming into the first leg really well and had not missed a single beat in training. The blond man patted the colt's neck, nodded to Reese. "She tell you what we're doing today?" "Nope," Reese said. "Or why she wanted the most frantic horse out in the middle of the day." Brooks rolled his eyes after he passed the woman. Sometimes Reese was a bit bullish, but she had to agree that nearly 99.99% of the time Ripley was correct. He'd come to accept this fact a long time ago. "Anyway. She wants a mile gallop and a four furlong breeze. Nothing too fast as both of these guys are hard-wired to explode at any moment." Optimus pranced animatedly onto the track, dark eyes brightening at the sight of the galloping yearlings, Uno Momento and Lady Timeah. He pulled fiercely on the bit, found resistance and relented. Brooks rewarded the colt by releasing him at the moment, grinning when the colt moved into a strong gallop. It would have been stronger if he'd released when Optimus had pulled. Reward to the bad behavior. Taboo danced sideways as the bay colt bounded away. The whites of her eyes flashed anxiously, but her muscles were revving up for a fight. Reese let out a breath and placed her life in the filly's hooves. Like a flash, Taboo was flying and catching up to Optimus. Her strides were as smooth as lemon meringue and just as graceful. She had this ethereal feeling and a sense of calmed seemed to take over the Everyday Hero filly. It was a very redeeming quality. Reese couldn't imagine what Taboo would be like to ride if she was a headcase in full flight. Brooks gritted his teeth as he fought to rein in Optimus. The bay colt could move when he wanted to, displaying a moment of immaturity. He'd been converted into a closer the last two starts, but only because Brooks sat heavy in the saddle and forced the colt to break a step slow. When a horse rushed up on him, the game was over. Brooks snapped the bit in Optimus' mouth, sighed when he finally regained control and Taboo took over the lead. Her thin tailed waved in the wind tauntingly at Optimus as she cruised down the backstretch two lengths in front. The bay colt snorted with every leaping stride, intent on letting Brooks know how much he disagreed with the tactics. Brooks could have cared less. He was simply happy the colt was rating well. Optimus' ears pricked up after two furlongs of steady running. No longer did he press furiously into Brooks' hands. Now he was in the bridle, but just enough to let Brooks know he had more horse. Reese knew she had plenty of horse. Taboo was on cruise control heading into the far turn. Her black-tipped ears bobbed over her head and Reese could hear every soft hoofbeat. Tabz knew she was about to be released, her body had tightened reflexively into the turn. She switched leads on command, nearly in sync with her rider. Reese let out a quiet breath before letting the reins soar through her fingers. Time was up. Four furlongs were left. Taboo whirled over the course, kicking up dust and dirt in her wake with powerful strides. She was nearly level to the ground by the time she hit mid-stretch and now a stunning five lengths ahead of Optimus Unstoppable. Reese peeked under her arm, saw Brooks push Optimus forward mildly. Her brows quirked in surprise for she had not yet asked Taboo for her best. "What the hell," Brooks murmured as Optimus thundered through the dusty wake. Taboo had practically been a mirage, there when far away and gone when they were right on top of her. She was floating over the course while Optimus barreled along on loud hooves. The little engine that could rolled over the course, ears pinned back in wild mane, mouth agape. He could not catch her and he would not at this rate. The sturdy bay cut into her lead, but was a length behind at the wire. Brooks had stopped urging the colt on, but now asked him to go on by a cantering Taboo. The horse picked up an intense gallop, bulletting by the two year old and taking his wrath out on the soil. He was not used to the front-runners going on with it. And he was not going to allow it to happen again. Reese watched as Optimus roared into the backstretch again, hell-bent on exorcising Taboo from his presence. She patted the filly, was stunned again when she found no sweat. Tucking down, Reese could hear no heavy breathing. Taboo trotted gracefully back to the gap, tossing her head excitedly. After all that exercise, the filly wouldn't have blown out a candle.
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