Stalking Glory.

[Cavallo]

Stalking Glory.
Featuring: Lissome & Night Goddess & Abastor - Duchess Stakes*

Lissome was on fire. Her fire shined from her chestnut coat, to her motion and to the burning in her eyes. She had taken two weeks to rest and then romped in the Summer Cup to claim her Grade Two win and now she was here this week at the track for revenge. Nick was pulling out all the stops today as Lissome prepared to pull off the upset for this year's Turf Triple Tiara. Impress the Moonlight was running an impressive game, but Lissome had bowed out of the last leg to prep and she had done just that...so now they were back and they were hungry.

Jeff Saunders held a dancing black stallion at the end of the reins as Abastor bugled his presence to all. Jeff patted the stallion's neck and contained the powerhouse styled monster as they waited for their other partners. It was a big weekend for IRS and Jeff almost felt bad for the young and upcoming jockey, Brody Graham. It was his first full season with IRS and already he was riding serious bids. His juvenile charge, Fusillade, had been a last minute purchase on Nick's behalf to help Ripley out, but the chestnut colt under Graham's hands was proving to be quite the force, claiming a coveted G4 status in the cut-throat juvenile ranks. Jeff was impressed to say the least, but being impressed would not get Lissome this win this weekend in the Duchess...nope. That was going to take work and he and Aba were there to make the filly work for it.

Aba snorted and then looked with interest as Night Goddess and Angelina appeared. Goddess was a generally excitable filly and picking up on Aba's energy and his interest in her had Angie shooting daggers in Jeff's direction. He held his hands ups in mock surrender. "We haven't done anything Voldaire," he teased the Latina and she muttered something in Spanish, which only made Jeff smile. Nick was then seen walking around the corner in deep conversation with Brody, Lissome dancing like her feet were on fire and burning to touch the turf below. Both Jeff and Angie took in the three year old and could appreciate the top form and finesse Lissome brought to the table. It was evident to everyone that this was a filly who was on the muscle, in form and ready to do battle. The press snapped their pictures, but Landing and Graham were in too deep of a strategist conversation to pay them much mind.

Nick stopped as did Brody and he waved to the other two to mount up as he gave Graham a leg up. "Listen Brody, the field is small, but classy. Impress the Moonlight is a stalker just like Lissome here and Trinity is a closer. I bred her myself. She's gonna sit nice and pretty in the back and Impress the Moonlight is going to just try and runaway with this race from start to finish, so we have to keep Lissome close on Impress, but don't get into a duel. You need to stalk the stalker and save enough in the tank to run Lissome away with the win and hold off Trinity's final charge." Trinity had been hard trying in the TTT and Nick wouldn't be surprised to see the All Smiles daughter pull an upset in her fury, but they could hold her off if they ran smart and simply wanted it more. He looked at Lissome and felt reassurance. There was hunger written in her eyes as she stamped an impatient foreleg. Brody nodded to all of Nick's instructions and smiled over at Jeff and Angie, who returned the grin and waved him over.

"Jeff, have Aba take lead, Lissome is going to stalk him and then of course Angie you and the Goddess will stalk Lissome. I don't want her pushed too hard, but this will be a very realistic trial here. Lissome can't enter into a speed dual early on, but can't loose the lead and she's gonna need to hold off a closer's charge...so warm them up in four and then take them for four more to home." They all nodded and joked amongst themselves trying to get Brody to relax and it worked...as soon as Lissome started galloping.

There was nothing more therapeutic than a gallop on a quick, speedy thoroughbred. Abastor took the lead, relishing his position and more than in his element as he led the trio into the warmup over the springy turf. There was no questioning, Abastor was one of the top turf handicap horses this season and Lissome's eyes were glued onto the stallion with steely determination. Brody had to admit the filly had fight and spunk and he admired that in her die hard attitude. Night Goddess galloped smoothly and cunningly from behind. Brody and Lissome felt her heavy, silent presence like a noose looming around the neck, but they both refused to be intimidated. Brody held Lissome steady, her ears flicked in mild frustration as they stayed behind Abastor, but she heeded his cues and waited.

Te four furlongs flew in a blur and then Jeff had Aba pick up the pace as they charged for home. Brody eased Lissome out and she relished the extra room to run, but Goddess' approach was now no longer a silent thunder, but one of fury as Angie unleashed the furiously charging mare. It was a brutal onslaught from the front and behind, but Lissome's nerves were steel as Body guided her to home sandwiched in between now amongst these two turf titans. Their mind was made up, they would not be left behind or denied, regardless of class or grades. They fought and fought hard for one more length as Jeff and Angie held their mounts parallel to the blossoming three year old and then they crossed for home.

Nick hummed in appreciation as he watched the trio of jockeys pull up their mounts. There was plenty more where that came from and he just knew it..knew it deep within his bones that Lissome and Brody were stalking glory...and soon their time would come. In the meantime, they'd run the hell out of whatever the competition threw their way on race day.