infinite motion [closed - Freeze!]

Amber felt like she could be rocked to sleep by the wonder of this boy's canter. Infini really was a rolling ocean. He was smooth as silk and he was gentle as could be. He was her favorite colt and apparently also her most talented, though also the most lightly raced of all the other three year olds out there. Seriously, what three year old had only raced thirteen times and been as successful as this? It wasn't because Infini was fragile that he hadn't raced too much. It was because of the lack of races that had been open to him, and her unwillingness to pit him against older horses as a juvenile. Yet he had proven his place at the top and could beat older horses now with a good kick in their faces.

She was thinking of her future plans for the monster black thoroughbred when she was suddenly engaged in conversation by somebody. Blinking her eyes, she looked over, and what do you know - Frozen Motion, Brookson Wells, the package deal. The only rivals for the Turf Triple Crown whom they hadn't faced before. This was convenient. Actually, it was more than confident. It was like some supernatural being was smiling down on her. This was exactly what Amber needed - intelligence on how Brooks and his colt worked. To Amber, Freeze looked like a dapple gray Infini. He seemed to be light on his jockey's hands and was moving along prettily. It was clear there was a good bond here.

Yes, Amber Black. Nice to meet you she said, grinning slyly. And on Frozen Motion. Sighting out the track for the Kentucky Open right? I saw your names on the entry list. I can't say I was too surprised, given how you've been doing at The Wire track. That last win of yours was stylish. Oh yes. She was very well informed. Perhaps too well informed. Ah well. It wasn't her fault for being overcautious when Ripley Marsh had come back to play the racing game. And she liked knowing what was going on at Witch Creek.

Amber sensed an eagerness to just get going already. She grinned slightly and simply prepared herself to go. Infini was in tune. He prepared himself as well, though not in a way you could outwardly notice, only feel. Amber was in tune with this horse and he was in tune with her. The turf would sing beneath their hooves and they would blaze a trail to the Turf Triple Crown. He would win it. Finally the race would be theirs! It had eluded her for too long, and she was done losing it. She would ride to victory this year, or she'd try again next year. She wanted to be the one in the irons winning this. The fire of her passion was perhaps reflected in her eyes, but she didn't care. She just wanted to prove that the turf was hers. It had always been hers.

She grinned as Brooks referred to the Finish Cup Turf. Maybe not scared...challenged. Infini could use a good challenge. Sometimes I think he's a bit too lazy. He certainly seems that way off the track. Wouldn't hurt a fly. On it, though, well...there's a reason why he's named Infinite Warcry. Amber could practically taste the moment that came next. He was here for a reason, after all. He wanted a work with Infini. So when he gave her that innocent look and voiced the question she knew was coming she grinned. That sounds like a great idea. What were you planning on doing? She was pretty sure she already knew. Witch Creek had a huge emphasis on bottom and conditioning workouts. So was probably galloping at least a mile and a half before going for a four furlong blowout. Unless he wanted a longer, simple race, like ten furlongs or so? Amber didn't care. The longer, the better. Infini's stamina was a bottomless pit and the longer the race got, the happier he was.

Infini was currently still cantering with ease. He noticed Freeze's presence at his side but it didn't affect him at all. He was just too easy going to get all riled up over the presence of another colt. Amber wouldn't put it past him to start making friends with Freeze if she let him. He was just that peaceful. And she got along best with the peaceful ones.

Cantering. Rolling along on top of the stormy ocean as though it was clear and calm. Nothing overpowering, nothing stopping, just Infini picking up his hooves and flying as he knew so very well how to. The black colt was feeling more and more amazing with each day. He was growing more into himself and he was nursing a new spirit for the track. With every win he grew to hunger after more. And never did he outwardly show this, except in the stretch. And then it was all over. Amber wished there was another race for Infini to run in before the Turf Triple Crown was actually upon them. But there wasn't. So Infini was getting more than a month off to prepare. He'd school on this track and he'd become even more skillful in this time period. Working with Frozen Motion was just a stepping stone. Amber knew she'd have an opportunity to race against Freeze in the Grade Four Turf race at the Stable Face Off. She'd gather more intell then.

As for now, it was time to go. They had definitely cantered a mile and Infini was doing anything but flagging. It was more like his stride was gradually uncoiling, and Amber knew it would soon be time to gallop. She listened to Brooks' plan and grinned. Yep. That was Witch Creek style. Bottom, bottom, bottom. Sounds good, let's go she said, almost airily. It was finally time to unleash Infini. Naturally, Infini was a bit of a slow breaker. He was in no hurry at the beginning of a race and always let other horses get way ahead of him. But that hadn't stopped him. He would come in like a freight train and then it'd all be over for his competitors. He spent the majority of the race cruising at low speed. He by no means was fast the entire way through. But if there ever was a horse with a better closing drive, Amber would like to meet them.

She eased Infini out into the gallop. Infini only took what was given to him, and then they were galloping. He had a long, effortless stride, and it seemed as though his hooves moved in slow motion. He seemed to be going too slow to actually be galloping. There was an emphasis on each stride, on each soft hoofbeat upon the turf track. Amber was crouched forward and motionless. They were going at his usual speed, which was just a good way of saying almost not fast at all. It could even be considered lazy, but Infini was anything but. He just liked to enjoy himself at the beginning of his races. What was the rush? He'd run his competition down later.

The longer the distance, the faster they got. Amber smiled as Infini, about seven furlongs into the gallop, began to pick up speed. Frozen Motion was going fast and he was maybe seven or eight lengths ahead of them and running easily. Not that it bothered Amber. They would run the colt down with everything they had. He may be talented, but he hadn't faced Infini, and Infini was no horse to be reckoned with. Amber could feel the black colt focusing, could feel the thrumming power, could feel the extra release. The power in his hindquarters, kept coiled into a neat ball of explosive energy, was suddenly channeled throughout the colt's body. And suddenly the black colt was flying into the six furlong quick portion of the workout.

They were unstoppable. They were pure speed. The distance between them and their target would be chewed up and nothing would stop them from swishing right on by. This was potent speed and talent. This was Infinite Warcry, and there was such a warcry in his eyes to demoralize his opponents. Such desire, such need, such joy as he ran forward, sprinted forward, with still so much energy hanging around in his hindquarters. He didn't like the gap any more than Amber did. Amber let him go, sitting chilly, allowing his motions to control hers. She just let him run. He needed no mediator, no person to weave him around horses. It was just him and Freeze and their separate desires to race each other. He had his eyes set on his target and was hunting him down.

Hunting. Hunting. Eyes focused on the enemy. Hooves reaching forward over the turf and springing off as soon as they landed. Glaring. A warcry in the eyes. The target drawing closer, closer, the turn rearing its head up to meet them. Their target was close, and Infini wasn't even hitting his real stride yet. Around the turn first. The big thoroughbred curved beautifully, just nudging up to the outside of Freeze, acknowledging that the gray had drifted out just a bit and not minding the longer journey. His monstrous strides chewed up turf and he was a well oiled machine. He was ready to kick it, and they paused for a bit just on the outside of Freeze as they went around the turn, black predator stalking the gray and letting his prey run, ever watchful and waiting.

The straightaway greeted them and off they were again. Amber eased out more rein and Infini took it eagerly. He was ready to roll and rolling he was. This was the end of a race, as he saw it, and he was running well. Though he could sense the lack of true urgency in his rider's movements and knew that this was just a practice race. Did that diminish his desire to win? Hardly. Infini always wanted to win, especially because he'd been doing a lot of that lately. And against this gray colt, it was no different. The winning margin did not matter to the colt. He just wanted to taste some more victory. So Amber let him run at his pace and prayed quietly to herself that it would be enough. She didn't want to overdo it but was willing to do so. She wanted to see what she'd be riding against in the Turf Triple Crown and this was an opportunity to see that.

Here was the Anarchi to her Impressario. Here was the True Enough to her Merry Bay King. Hell, here was the Cross My Heart to Midnight Sun. This would be her greatest challenger on race day. Not Instant Success - they had faced him before and tasted victory. Frozen Motion. The colt she hadn't faced before and who was accelerating forward thrillingly even as Infini's increasing momentum kept him stride for stride with the gray colt. She was surprised but at the same time not by the colt's sudden thrill of speed. They wouldn't be left behind. But this was beautiful. Freeze had something left and was pushing forward for all he was worth, keeping stride with her black machine. But Infini merely flicked his ears and continued forward, not bothered, just happy to be out racing. He was a competitive horse, yes, but he wasn't such a hot head as to respond deeply to a challenge. He was peaceful and serene even now as he was challenged for the win in a mere workout. And they would finish stride for stride with this challenger even if they could try to leave him behind. For he was worthy of placing that way against Infini.

Amber was unaware of the crowd at the rail or the times they were both running as they flashed under the wire stride for stride. She was only aware of her horse and the exhilaration coursing through her veins. Infini had only started thirteen times in his career. He had won ten of those starts, five of them this year. He wasn't an established champion - just a rising one. So naturally she wondered, just as those that made up the crowd did, how fast Infini could run and if he could really take the Turf Triple Crown, finally, for SOPS. Would her dreams finally come true? Would the son of Jessie James, who had placed third behind Merry Bay King and True Enough all those years ago in the Breeders Cup Turf, finally be redeemed?

A grin stretched across her face as she stood in the irons and slowly, slowly started to make Infini's stride coil up. The massive colt slowed at her command, tossing his head, lathered with sweat, but looking every inch a thoroughbred racehorse full of more. He had had a good run today and it showed in his physical condition but not in his demeanor. He would always love to run more and he expressed that now as he pranced in place and snorted for a stride before settling into a rolling canter. She looked over at Brookson Wells and grinned. I swear, Witch Creek horses work better than they race she teased. Every workout out of one of you and a crowd forms and stares. I must say I enjoyed that.