Post by Snowflake on Sept 15, 2011 6:01:15 GMT -5
ACORN STAKES* AND KENTUCKY DERBY* WORKOUT
Born to Soar and Sarah Star
Mr Hat and Clogs and Blaze Bryant
Furious Passion and Marissa Star
Blaze could hardly believe it. It had been one thing to know he was riding a potential contender. But to actually be riding the colt in the Kentucky Derby, in a matter of days, was a completely different an amazing thing. He scratched behind Kisuke's ears affectionately, as they walked briskly on the dirt track, waiting for Sarah and Marissa, and their two horses. Kisuke snorted, having caught the sight of a horse sprinting not so far away from them. Blaze held him tightly, prepared in case the colt decided he wanted in on the chase.
After a few more minutes, Furious Passion appeared, riderless. He skidded to a stop beside Kisuke, looking very pleased with himself. Blaze snapped up the rein closest to him, pulling the colt's head close for more control. Guessing you're why they're taking their time this morning? Blaze murmured. Kisuke snorted, his ears back, warning Passion. An outrider came then, and clipped a line onto the colt. Thanks man. His rider is over at the gap. Blaze said, pointing at where Marissa stood, looking annoyed but otherwise not obviously hurt. Sarah and Born To Soar trotted towards them, passing the outrider as they went.
Hey, sorry we're a bit late. Passion's been giving us a bit of grief, as per usual.. just got out of the stables, and he got away from Marissa and decided it would be fun to play catch me if you can. She said, a bit of a smile on her face. Furious Passion rejoined them then, this time with Marissa, who looked annoyed still. Blaze grinned at her in amusement; she shot him a sarcastic smile in return. He'd known her only a couple months, but that chick was already kind of like his sister.
They rode side by side at a trot. Furious Passion had calmed down by now and was behaving well enough. It seemed he'd had enough adventure for one morning and just wanted to run now. Kisuke was raring to go as well. With two other horses for competition, one on either side of him, the colt was fired up and ready to race. Born To Soar was side stepping a bit, tossing her head. She was also very keen for a race. The filly was a top contender in the Triple Tiara, and given then chance, she could take on the boys in the Crown as well. But Sarah was really hoping the filly would become the first Triple Tiara Champion in Green Horse Fields. With a record of 23-10-7-3 and wins such as the The Youth Challenge, Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies, Alabama Stakes and Ruffian Stakes, there was no doubt the filly was talented enough to do it. And, there was only one other filly in the Acorn Stakes field, which was pretty interesting.
Pressing her colt into canter, Marissa was also going over the race in her mind. If Passion would pull his head in for this one, he stood a good chance of winning. He'd faced and beaten all these colts before, as a two year old in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile, and this year in the Bluegrass Stakes. Truth was, when Passion focused on the race, her directions and not who was in front of him, the colt won easily. He'd get there, with some more maturity, she guessed. Vindictive Fury, his older half sister, had.
Blaze also turned his attention to Mr Hat and Clogs' chances in the Derby. The colt was talented, there was no doubt. He'd won both the Wood Memorial Stakes, and Florida Derby. He was fit, and healthy, and had plenty of talent. In the Crown, they were up against four other horses besides Passion. They included two fillies, Flashabelle and Mystical Melody. Honestly, Flashabelle didn't stand a chance in this field. She should really be running in the Acorn Stakes. They knew this because they'd bred and raced the filly until she was three. Mystical Melody on the other hand could be a contender. TDI Live this Lie was Stride of Perfection's other entry. Like Passion, it seemed, the colt was talented when he put his mind to it. He had won the Santa Anita Derby, which neither Passion or Kisuke had run in. The final entrant was Platinum Fox. He was a gorgeous white horse, who had not run at all this year. We didn't have a clue whether he could contend or not.
Born To Soar was up against only one other filly in the Acorn Stakes. Dark Sunrise, who was very well bred as half sister of Euphoria and Lusitania. She hadn't yet done much on the track, but had so far won two races this season and was a contender.
As previously agreed, each of the horses broke into gallop at the six furlong marker. They were just going to gallop four furlongs easily, then a quick blow out on the final two. The huffing sounds of the horses breathing quickened, and their ears turned back from the rushing wind. As they rounded the turn and the straight stretched out before them, each horse naturally began to quicken their pace. Two furlongs to go! Sarah glanced over at the colts. Passion was aggressively gaining speed, pulling ahead rapidly. She cued Born To Soar as Mr Hat and Clogs made a break for it.
It wasn't a race, but the horses sure were treating it that way. Each one of them fought hard for first place, but there wasn't enough time. They passed by the finish line with Furious Passion ahead by a length, and the other two roughly equal. They were ready for the Derby and Acorn Stakes.
