rock and roll [closed - Kirsty, Ripley]

<sub>Ribbons and flyers and excited newsboys raced around Green Horse Fields bragging about the eight horse field in the Youth Challenge they had managed to snag this weekend. The newsboys touched people on the back, shoved a paper in their face and spoke rapidly about the race everyone already knew about. The Youth Challenge had been on everyone's mind since a dramatic field had been entered. Topped by the likes of Red Herring, Sweet Inferno, War Cry and Ignite. Brooks had galloped Red Herring this morning in order to avoid the rush of people which now lined the race track.

Justin and Maggie stared out over the track, their dark brown and blue eyes scoured the competition. Maggie leaned against the rail and Justin sat six feet up in the air. Justin's throat over his neck warmer as he looked out over the fantastic track. Maggie had brought him over today after workouts had been completed at Witch Creek. She wanted him to see the track while aboard a horse, to get a feel for it. And like Ripley, Maggie wanted to show off the new talent in the barn.

Maggie glanced sideways at the Goliath standing beside her. There was no relatively more unknown two year old with Witch Creek than this. Hokum, a son of Kore VS and Rosalind, making him a half to Admiral's Revenge, resonated every ounce of his powerful pedigree. He just stood quietly beneath Justin, a red ribbon tied into his thick black cape of a tail. Justin patted the colt's neck glancing around and catching the eager eyes of some crowd goers. When you were aboard an 18 hand monster you better be prepared for attention. Maggie patted Justin's leg.

Hey there Cowboy. How does he feel for you? Justin glanced down, swallowing his fear. Hokum was the one horse who knew how to take advantage of fear. He feels solid, curious. Wants to run like always. He sure feels like a million bucks. Maggie smiled at Justin who attempted a grin. The boy did not trust his bond with Hokum just yet, but Maggie knew it was stronger than it had been the first ride. Hokum was tough, but Justin handled him just fine at home. He looks like a million bucks thanks to you.

Justin laughed. Ripley said he was born ripped. The pair chuckled and returned their attention to the trio of horses now coming together on the track. Sweet Inferno. Italian Ice. Maggie muttered quietly. The two fillies would face Red Herring in the Youth Challenge and both of them looked awfully good. And not far behind looked to be a past friend of Ripley's in Melanie from ARS. She was aboard Dirty Diana, a competitor of Red's on a number of times. Maggie rolled her shoulders, glanced sideways at Justin and wished she had a mount of her own. She loved a good competition and this little group reeked of it.

Maggie patted Justin's leg, grinned. Want to stir up the pot a little, Justin? Justin looked down at her then back up at the group of fillies. As much as liked to deny it, Justin loved competition just as much as Ripley and Maggie. Think Hokum's up to it? Maggie nodded cleverly. When he's fully developed Justin, I bet he blows anything he faces out of the water.

Justin took comfort in her words, running a tense finger down the colt's black crest. He was an extremely talented colt. And he was ready to show it. Justin nodded, asked the colt to back up and then step through the gap of the track. People watched them go the wrong way with their eyes, curious about the large colt with the relatively unknown jock supporting Witch Creek colors. Maggie gritted her teeth and wolf-whistled. Boy Hokum looked like something special.

And he felt like something special. Justin bounced lightly in the saddle, admiring the power that the colt exuded. Nothing like him on the track, Justin thought. He asked the big horse to canter and grinned when he moved powerfully down the line, knees lifting together, legs flying over the ground in a strong canter. His red ribboned tail flew high over his haunches as he danced over the dirt as if he'd been born there. Justin slowed him to a ground eating trot, asked him really. Hokum didn't take orders. Without even a nudge from Justin, the colt powered up the homestretch, stretching his legs out and playing in the dirt. He closed in rapidly on the trio of fillies, ears flattened out of meanness and competition. He didn't like the girls honestly. Justin smirked. Don't know how though. Those pretty midnight ladies would give you good foals. Same with the gray. Hokum flicked his ears, bobbed his head and slowed to a trot three horse paths out. He would kick if they got too close, hence the ribbon.

Justin patted his mount, glanced at the women from Stride of Perfection and Akita Rose Stables. Nervousness reddened his cocoa cheeks and he wished Reese was here. Her cheeky attitude could calm him down in a second. Hokum tossed his head, demanding a loosening of the reins. Justin obliged and the colt remained at his measured trot. Umm... Maggie Reynolds sent me over here to give you guys a run for your m-m-m-oney. He paused briefly before saying, Names Justin Santiago. I condition Dazzling Dame and this guy here, Hokum.

Spotting Amber Black down the rail, Maggie sauntered over. Brooks' rival was hers. Stable loyalty trumped womanhood. She slyly grinned and leaned against the rail. The woman had a stopwatch in her hand. Your fillies look good. Glad to see that Italian Ice is back on the track. A shame about Silver Stride. They were awesome competitors when in full flight. Maggie paused, her baby blues settling on Hokum who was only now approaching the fillies. Yes he looked damn good today. Witch Creek's newest two year old. Handsome, isn't he?

Ooc: Sorry, but I just couldn't join the filly party. My muse is brimming for him since he technically was already here for Week Three.</sub>