Post by *Ripley* on Apr 17, 2015 11:38:02 GMT -5
Steal Me Away
featuring: Vagabond & Nocturnal Runaway
mission: Preakness Champion Stakes & Cotillion Stakes
Brooks watched the rain come down with his jean blue eyes and felt irritation not for the first time this week. Ripley had been absolutely on him about training properly since Saintly Touch, Nocturnal Runaway and Spotlight Pride had failed in their races. Spotlight Pride had done the best. Saint had thrown in an inexplicable clunker after a tremendous three year old season. Heck the horse had been campaigned perfectly for the Triple Crown and in a matter of two minutes Reese had changed his running style and suddenly the mid-pack plan became the horse running in second throughout the mile and a quarter, chasing Baciami, a horse they could have beaten if Reese hadn't changed tactics.
Brooks was out for revenge, simply because he felt like he was failing Ripley.
Brooks had let Reese have it immediately after. He regretted the harsh words, blamed it on his own tiredness from the baby and the fact that he had wanted that Derby win for Ripley. Reese had stubbornly refused his offer for her to quit jockeying. Two bull crap rides on Bella Luna in the Breeders' Cup Turf and now Saintly Touch stood between Reese and Brooks. She had come to work the next day, but barely acknowledged his existence.
He wasn't surrendering or apologizing anytime soon.
Luckily, Reese wasn't in on this workout.
Maggie and David watched the trainer with cautious eyes as they circled their Preakness Champion colt and Cotillion filly. Vagabond loomed a massive specter beside the slim athletic blond. His body was all hulking muscle and the rain glanced off him like he'd been finely waxed. He was doing the best he'd ever done, a late bloomer. His performance in the eleven furlong Black Birdie Stakes at Battlestone Downs had been beyond impressive. Why not swing him back around for the Preakness Champion against Take Flight and Pandora? Spotlight Pride had given them a fight and he wasn't even made for the distance. What would a horse as in form and stamina ridden as Vagabond do against them? He was a dark horse and Maggie considered him a potential threat.
Nocturnal Runaway was already a known threat. She was a classy runner was the silver filly. She had had the toughest of trips in the Debutante Stakes at a distance that hadn't necessarily favored her. Nine furlongs was getting into her wheel house and she was not going to be the victim of two bad trips in a row. David Carter had been impressed with the filly's spirit after her loss. She had gone through the wire and proceeded to buck in front of the crowd. Her loss hadn't been the end and she was going to prove that. David adored her more in defeat than if she had won. She'd had all the cards stacked against her and had fought valiantly through it all. There was always a next time and it was three days away.
Brooks had quietly waited until the right moment for the workout. It would be a five furlong lung opener in the mud. The turf track had closed so that the grass was prime for Preakness Champion Stakes day. The change of surface wouldn't bother his pair any. Both of them were just as effective over dirt as turf. While most turf three year olds would be resting, his duo would be out serving up notice. Soft ground or firm ground, his pair was going to be ready for the big dance. These two were not hot house flowers.
"Go ahead and mount up," he called through the lightening rain. "Let's head to the track."
The horses skipped into playful prances when the riders climbed aboard and directed them to the track. Noc tossed her head, letting loose a whinny. She was a handful that was for sure. With rolling eyes, Noc led the way down the path, splashing through the puddles like it was her day job. David kept his legs out of the short stirrups, made sure to keep his heels down. Noc was a crazy horse sometimes, especially of late after that loss. Short stirrups were not exactly going to save his butt if she dumped him and left him for dead.
He crooned to the flashy filly, watched her eyes light up as the muddy track appeared before her. He flashed a smile at Maggie who was still aboard her large colt. Vagabond was all business now. He mouthed the bit and eyed the track out of his blinkered head. Maggie could feel the strength and brawn of the Winged Heir colt and knew he would be full of himself today. He'd been flying high since his win in the Black Birdie Stakes. She hoped it carried over to this workout and beyond.
David placed his feet in the stirrups, raised his brows at Brooks. "What's the plan, boss?"
"Not the boss, but the plan is five furlongs in 1:00. A big lung opener to get some of that frustration out of Noc and put some speed into Bond's head. You'll be hard pressed to keep up with the filly, Maggie, but if you do more power to Bond."
Maggie patted the colt's dark neck, smiled at Brooks. She had no doubt they could catch Nocturnal Runaway. He used to be a one run closer, but now he was starting to turn the corner. No longer was the big horse disadvantaged in a two horse race. Now he was ready for every situation, large or small field. She let the colt step onto the track, grunting when he turned sideways to analyze the great expanse. He crab walked for a couple strides before picking up his rocking horse canter. She stood in the stirrup, letting the colt get the hang of his striding. Running seemed to be different over the mud. Bond was a proficient mudder. He was a light footed horse despite his height and weight.
Noc skimmed over the slick track, her body already stretching hungrily over the surface. David leaned close to her neck as she played over the reflecting ground. She had such a character to her. She'd really opened up and seemed to be thriving in the face of her latest defeat. That was fine with him. The happier she was, the more willing she was to work, the better the silver filly would perform in the second leg of the Turf Triple Tiara.
David tucked the filly into the rail around the first turn, letting her gradually pick up speed. She pressed her tongue against the bit, demanding release. She floated over the surface, once again drawing onlookers on the rail. They could find no excuses for her beyond the bad trip for she had given every indication that she was on top of her game throughout her April workouts. David let the reins out notch by careful notch through the first furlong. She was the classiest filly he'd sat on.
Vagabond cruised beneath Maggie, his stride long and effortless as he tracked his filly workmate. He was a powerful mover and he looked effortless throughout all of it. Maggie knew she had a ton of horse. She was pushing to start the handsome colt to head to the Preakness Champion Stakes. She knew he had the talent, knew he had the mental capacity to handle the craziness of the day. Maggie took big calming breaths, sending easy going waves down the reins. Here was a very good colt ready to do her bidding.
Brooks liked what he was seeing as the filly and colt moved toward the turn. Noc was barely being tapped. Her stride was perfect and well within her capabilities. Vagabond was beginning to move quicker than Brooks had expected. His huge strides pulled him within a length of Noc through the turn. Momentum carried the Winged Heir colt wide, but his ferocity pulled him into contention in the homestretch. It was like watching a tornado about to swallow a small town.
Nocturnal Runaway pinned her ears in denial of his sudden appearance. David gave her more rein then and was rewarded with a stunning kick. Vagabond fell back quite quickly, but a hustling Maggie had the blinkered colt rushing back into the headwind. The pair splashed their way down the stretch, impressing the rail birds. Vagabond drew a length ahead of Nocturnal Runaway by the time he hit the wire, but he was under mild urging and Noc had been, according to some, seemingly held back by David Carter.
The theory seemed to hold some merit though as Noc suddenly gained her head and blew by Vagabond in the gallop out. Her eyes blazed with disdain and fury. David smirked as she galloped heartily through the first turn, putting an exclamation mark on her statement.
Maggie grinned at the silver filly's spirit, but she knew Noc wouldn't have beaten Bond to the wire. He was simply too much colt right now. He had too much going for him and she knew the distance would be no problem for the upstart. It was time to see where the big bay stood in the turf realm and there was no better time than now.