after the call

VENTURA AND AMBER BLACK
AFTERGLOW AND HENNA TURATH

VEN'S MOTHER GOOSE STAKES WORKOUT

To take the Tiara was something every horse owner dreamed of but not something Amber Black had ever had a chance of doing. In fact, she usually sat out the Tiara entirely, usually having no horses suitable for the distance requirements. But just three years ago she had started breeding those suitable horses, and Ventura was the first. The daughter of Impressario and Rising Fury was more than suited to these classic three year old series. She had trained and raced her whole life to be at the top of her class. And she had taken another step along her path to greatness - a win in the Acorn Stakes, the first leg. Now the second leg, the Mother Goose Stakes, was upon them. They were facing only Indian Darling, and Amber, despite everything, was nervous. She might have won the Triple Crown and even just missed the Turf Triple Crown. She might have dealt with that kind of pressure. But overall, the pressure never truly went away.

In two horse fields, strategy was an absent friend. Anything could happen. There was no pace to truly control, nothing. Amber had done her research on Indian Darling's return to the racetrack. Ven would be taking the lead and Darla would be behind them until the stretch, where she would accelerate and attempt to steal their win. She had definitely improved during her two year old season, but she had no experience on the Green Horse Fields dirt track this year. That would no doubt have been remedied by her working out here all year, so Amber discounted that. But even so, she hadn't been facing the level of competition Ven had been facing. Ven had faced top class horses. She was sharper and more ready. Or at least, that was what Amber kept telling herself. Anything could happen on raceday, and they could very well lose, as crushing as that would be.

Their workout partner today was the ever-active Afterglow. She was the alpha mare, a highly dominant character, one who desired the win regardless of conditions. She was similarly to the way Ven did, and perhaps that was why she would be their workout partner. Stormi had been with them for a while, jockeyed by Valencia Andrews back then, but Amber had thought the older mare would improve more in Henna's experienced hands, so to Henna she went. Stormi had been a Triple Tiara competitor herself, competing fiercely against Silverianna in every leg. She was a great horse, just neglected as of late, but Henna planned to turn the career around and get her winning some more again. She liked Stormi. Her attitude on the track and off of it was amusing and enjoyable.

Stormi danced sideways and away from the other horses crowding on the track. She was not easy to handle around others. Henna calmly guided her along almost easily due to her experience handling the jittery Pegasus Wings. Stormi was safe in her hands. Amber and Ven were trotting a circle just a little ways off, Ven well in hand as her eyes roved with calculation in them around the track. She was so ready to go, coiled like a snake ready to strike. Stormi was not all too keen on going near the Rising Fury daughter, and Amber knew that. She broke Ven's loops and trotted the black over to say hi. Henna knew the drill. She replied and then, side by side, difficult as it was with Stormi's jitters, the two horses made their way down the track.

Stormi and Ven started to canter, and then to gallop. Stormi's was energetic, Ven's nothing short of efficiently powerful. Their muscles rippled as they coasted down the dirt. They were beautiful athletes and their jockeys smiled with pride as they worked them. There was nothing better than just being out and about with the horses you loved, working in the hopes of achieving great things. Stormi pulled like a train, her head lowering as she asked for more. Henna gave and Stormi responded, stretching out and bounding off as she did so. Ven didn't miss a beat, and neither did Amber. As efficient as a pair that had worked together for a long time, the two of them swept up the track after the bolting bay, drawing up alongside effortlessly.

Then Ven made her move. She darted forward as Amber asked lightly. She needed no directions as she galloped, full of steam and ready to run for more. She was beautiful as she left Stormi behind. The bay filly was not to be outdone. She, too, dug in, and after the three year old and rider they swept. Thus they continued, mirroring each other with barely a command given by their riders. They worked in perfect harmony, a duo of concentrated power and talent. As they slowed following a mile of this self-initiated exercise, they were sweating slightly and their riders exchanged coy looks. This face off would have to continue in a workout Ven could actually stretch out in. For now, they didn't want her tired as she chased down the Tiara in the Mother Goose Stakes.