"I can see why Reese left Brazil," Maggie remarked as she mounted her powerful juvenile candidate. The blonde woman had learned to stay far away when any visitors stepped ten feet on the property. Better to let Ripley and the rest deal with the media and the outsiders. Maggie had enough drama on her plate. She smirked at Ripley's noncommittal grunt. The jock would rather eat her tongue than express her dislike for Cane. "I'd rather concentrate on why she came to my barn. Anyone would kill to get their hands on Reese." Defiance and pride laced Ripley's carefully chosen words. Maggie was pleased to work for a loyal boss, beyond happy to call her a best-friend. "It's true though. Never met a jockey that could settle a crazy horse like Reese." "Surprising, since she's as prickly as a cactus," Maggie muttered, drawing a laugh out of Ripley. The green eyed trainer aimed a smile at her friend as she hopped aboard The Devil's Hourglass. "I've heard tales that horses bring out a person's true self. Perhaps that can be said for Reese." Ripley stroked Hourglass' neck, turning her thoughts inward. She felt more human aboard any horse, tough or not. Her human side just became more expressive when she was on a horse she was especially fond of. Hourglass was one of those creatures. The bay filly was a hard-knocking, hard-working, tough son of a gun. The Belmont Turf Classic winner had been performing admirably since that race, taking down wins and seconds and thirds. It was time to step up her game again. Last year's top juvenile performer needed to get back on the podium and back into the conversation. The Just A Game Stakes over Hourglass' preferred turf track was just the place to do it. There was no preferred track for Vagabond. The Winged Heir colt was good, very good in Maggie's opinion. The horse showed up in every single race and put on a show every time. He was just on the edge of grade four and he was sitting on a good race. Maggie twined her fingers into the colt's black mane, enjoying the powerful feeling. Bond was her El Sol Del Mar, her Mastermind. The public just didn't know it yet. They would. The colt would go somewhere soon with more time to grow into his large frame and long stride. The colt arched his neck when he was asked to jog after Hourglass. The stout dark bay waved her tail in the colt's face, eyes blazing irritably. Kind she was not under saddle. She'd tamed down a lot compared to the foolishly fast creature she'd been as a two year old. Ripley was pondering a change in tactics for the strong bay. Taking back was not working much these days. She was so much stronger when allowed to run from the get-go in her workouts. It could be possible that was how she wanted to be raced. They would find out today. Maggie was curious how this workout would shape up. Bond wasn't a horse who enjoyed being scrubbed on the entire length of the workout. He liked to be allowed his big run at the very end. Maggie chewed her lip thoughtfully as the pair of horses moved into contained gallops to the first hill. She'd have to make a decision. Hourglass was becoming a Cross My Heart type and she wouldn't die off after eight furlongs. She'd keep right on going and going. Luckily, Bond was more of a stamina type animal. As expected, Hourglass took off like a rocket as soon as Ripley released her savage head. Maggie released her colt a second later upon noticing his strain to follow. If the colt wanted to keep up let him. It would hurt him if she held him back now. The bay powerhouse followed Hourglass over the crest, eyes alight with excitement. Ripley cocked her whip above her shoulder, signaling to Maggie this was to be a solid mile and a quarter gallop with the workout at the end. Maggie nodded in approval at the decision. Cross was going to be a deeply missed member of the roster, but at least there was something to look forward to in Hourglass. The strong baby daughter of The Devil's Touch was a blazing beast at the moment. She crushed everything in her path, taking down those that dare to run with her if she couldn't win. She had a big dog attitude in a little dog body. Ripley leaned close as the filly marched over the turf course, relentless in her speed. She was giving all of the right signs going into this next stakes race. Ripley tapped the filly on the shoulder, keeping her honest. Bond followed two lengths behind, tongue bobbing with his rhythm. He was really enjoying the chase. He loved to be in the clear did this big horse. He could get a little claustrophobic in tight spaces, but given room to run he really had a lovely cruising speed. He targeted Hourglass through the mile and a quarter, reaching with his stride up the hill and only shortening as much as necessary going down. Ripley didn't pause Hourglass at the top of the flat. She wouldn't get a breather in the race if there was pressure. Hourglass didn't take Bond seriously, but any other competition in an actual race was as dangerous as the next. The filly chugged down the hill, leaping the last foot to the flat. The reins flapped in the wind as the filly dashed across the flat. Ripley was laughing as the horse ran. Hourglass was something else. Maggie scrubbed Bond, grinning when he responded with a quick lead change and a burst of speed. His giant strides ate up the ground, caught the filly as she was moving through her last furlong. The big and small thoroughbreds bolted for the finish, eyes alight like their humans with passion for the race. Hourglass put the colt away with another gear, cementing her win with a length lead beneath the wire. Ripley fist-pumped the air excitedly, slapped hands with Maggie as Bond cruised by. The large colt had handled the test well. Like Hourglass, he was rounding into form at the perfect time as well.
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