Post by *Ripley* on Apr 8, 2015 9:39:38 GMT -5
Becoming A Tradition
featuring: Spotlight Pride
mission: Kentucky Open
"We're either going to look like the smartest individuals or we're going to look like the dumbest," Brooks said as he led Spotlight Pride from the barn toward the turf track. His blue eyes were sparkling despite the bags under his eyes. It was nearly time for classic season and Witch Creek was sitting pretty. Many people would consider the trio heading for the track the ones to watch. What other group in the last four years could claim Witch Creek's record in the Turf Triple Crown? In the last three seasons, Witch Creek horses had swept 6 of the 9 races with Frozen Motion, The Devil's Hourglass and the only Turf Triple Crown winner to date, Bella Luna. Between Brookson Wells and Reese Balling Jones, they had won five of those races.
Bella Luna had been the clear favorite in her season to get the job done. Frozen Motion had battled ferociously with favorite Infinite Warcry. The Devil's Hourglass had ended a Turf Triple Crown bid with her not-so-unexpected win in the Belmont Turf Classic. And this season, Witch Creek was headed to the Kentucky Open with a horse that had not lost a race since December Week Four in Year Fourteen. And somehow... he wasn't even the favorite.
That honor was split between 12 win wonder Take Flight and the behemoth of a filly Pandora. And why not? They had more tactical advantages. They didn't need the lead. They could sit back, watch the front runners whip through the gauntlet and close in the stretch. They were cats to the front running mice. That was how it was going to be come Kentucky Open day. They had more fan fare due to running seven and five times already. Pandora had been beaten by Take Flight, but she had done something Take Flight had not which was beat Sun King, Vagabond and Nocturnal Runaway.
But neither Take Flight or Pandora had beaten Spotlight Pride.
His victories were glistening and brilliant. He never was headed. He was the classiest speed on the track at the moment. He'd run three times with ample time to recover and prepare for the two race gauntlet that he could run in the Kentucky Open and Preakness Champion Stakes.
The news media was abuzz with excitement. An Y15 undefeated horse, a magnificent filly and a nearly grade one colt were all going to meet up in the Kentucky Open. It was potentially the greatest field yet.
Reese tried not to think of that as she straightened in the saddle, tightened her gloves and thought of the race to come. Was it Stride Of Perfection setting Pandora up by having Devil's Flair take Spotlight Pride down? Or was SOPS just seeing which, colt or filly, could justify going the rest of the series? Either way, Reese was not excited to see Devil's Flair in the entry box. It had been tough taking the Augusto colt down in the Unicorn Horn Turf, but they'd done it and gone on to take two other races. Dragonheart of Nature Blue, another pace presser, was in there as well. Reese knew she could outrun the gray for sure, but the chestnut colt was an issue.
Spotlight Pride hated Devil's Flair. Devil's Flair reminded him of Casualty Of War, another colt Pride couldn't stand.
This meant one thing, Reese had to play a chess game with Devil's Flair right out of the gate. Spotlight Pride would simply have to cooperate or pay the price in the final furlong. Their three races this season had been building on their partnership. Reese knew she could get him to focus, to play her game and save enough to stave off the closers.
Brooks unclipped the lead rope from Spotlight Pride's bridle, stepped back to take in the colt. He wasn't the biggest of horses, but he sure cut a nice figure. His athletic frame glistened like flame in the sunlight. He had an alertness and sharpness to his eye that drew the average onlooker. He was quite gorgeous and looked all racehorse. "I wouldn't trade him."
Reese cocked a brow. "Oh we aren't. He's too good to give up. Just wait til the final furlong Brooks. I'm going to rate him so good those closers will be shocked with how much he's got left."
"Well, don't do too much today Reese. How about six furlongs in 1:11?"
She smiled. "You got it."
Spotlight Pride stepped out onto the track, ears pricked and nostrils flaring to take in the smells. He remembered this place as a place of many victories and hard won efforts. His whole body seemed to swell with energy. He glided over the turf, a perfect image along the rail. Clockers took note, excited to see some potential fireworks. Every time Spotlight Pride hit the track he lit up the clocker's watches. Reese gave him a pat, thrilling at the feeling of racehorse under her.
The Deathflash's Pride colt immediately snapped into his gallop upon asking. Reese sat chilly as he moved powerfully over the grass. Head down, Pride grabbed at the bit, demanding Reese let him out for the first couple furlongs. He huffed, eyes blazing in irritation, but Reese didn't release him. He would give in. He always put up more of a fight in his workouts than in a race.
Reese kept her hands quiet as his picked up the pace, but remained well within himself. The pace wasn't strong, but he was doing it quite easily. The clockers wanted speed. The public thought Pride would go right to the front and lead from the getgo. Perhaps he was just too naturally fast for his competition, but he wasn't going to blaze like a rocket out there. He was not the foolish young juvenile with uncontrollable speed any longer.
The colt skipped through the turn as easy as pie. Reese was smirking, niggled him for more as he went into the stretch. He jumped into the bridle, launching into his torrid run. Reese lowered herself against his elegant neck, smiling as the colt swept down the stretch, tail flying out behind him.
Brooks hit the stop watch as the colt flitted through the wire in 1:11 and change. The time was slower than most every other six furlong workout on the day. It was the finishing furlong that bore watching. Pride had gone the final furlong in :10 2/5. Quick enough that he would have repelled any closing challenge.
By running only three times on the season, Witch Creek had effectively hidden Spotlight Pride's newest dimension. It was about time the colt got to use what he'd learned in the biggest race of his career yet.