Post by S u N f r O s t ~ on Dec 20, 2011 17:12:12 GMT -5
FIRE DANCER AND KRYSTAL YHATE
TDI LIVE THIS LIE AND AMBER BLACK
FIRE'S WORKOUT FOR THE BREEDERS CUP JUVENILE FILLIES
Fire Dancer tilted her head to the side, examining Krystal critically as the woman vaulted onto her back and picked up the reins. Standing stock still, the huge two year old filly awaited Krystal's first commands with the air of a queen looking to her adviser. Krystal took some time to get comfortable in the saddle, sitting deeper and checking the lengths of her stirrups. The muscles in her arms flexed as she grabbed the reins, checking their length. Finding everything to be in order, Krystal finally gave the command to Fire to move. Fire did move now, her walk more like an imperious, arrogant strut. She found her way towards the dirt track, walking as though she owned the world the whole time. She took Krystal's commands as suggestions right now, and would not begin to truly listen until they were in mid gallop and flying for the win. This had been a tough part of their relationship to work out. Fire had always wanted to be her own leader. She rarely listened to Krystal's commands, and during a race this had cost her the win. She had made rash decisions and gotten boxed in, unable to uncoil her monstrous stride in a shot for the lead.
But in past months, their partnership had changed. Fire had begun to take Krystal seriously, as her rider proved to make good decisions. If there was one thing Fire disliked, it was having dirt thrown in her royal little face, and Krystal's commands had helped avoid that. Now, they would work for the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies. They would be facing Afterglow and Silverianna, two monstrously talented fillies, and it would be a tough race. Krystal knew that her horse was going off as the long shot. However, she also knew that Fire's true talents had not been revealed yet to the racing world. Fire had a lot in her. As daughter of the excellent racehorse Native Flame and excellent broodmare On To Dancing, the blood of running scorched through her veins. She was going to be hitting her prime in the next two years, though the beginnings of this could be caught now. Perhaps it was the new analytic gleam to her eyes or the calm reassurance that came from experience that wreathed its way around her. Whatever the case, their time was coming soon. Fire was SOPS's top contender for the Triple Tiara. This race would be a sort of coming-out for her.
Shading her eyes, Krystal looked out at the track, curious to see if Amber had arrived yet. Then she caught the gray three year old colt still making his warm up lap around the track, and recognized Amber aboard Falsehood. Grinning, she got Fire out onto the track and going in a stubborn-footed trot. Of course, the filly wanted to go faster, but wouldn't dare show her feelings. They were on the track right now; Fire was getting down to business. Her gaze followed the gray colt that was slowly cantering towards her. A challenge already glared out from her. Holding her head high, the filly half strutted forward and began to canter at Krystal's command. Krystal saw this as an excellent sign and smirked. Fire had the passion her sire had on the track. She also carried the "underdog flare" - that is, the shifting class that was sometimes apparent and other times hidden. She was a reflection of her sire. It was like an inheritance.
As Amber drew up alongside them, Krystal nodded a greeting to her. Amber responded with her own nod, a smile gracing her lips. You're just going to race me and Falsehood for one mile. Be ready were her words. Krystal nodded. Amber clicked and sent Falsehood forward once more, this time into a slow gallop. It was not a racing gallop, and Krystal wondered at this tactic. Why was Amber galloping already? Perhaps she longed to feel the coiled speed beneath her, or perhaps she needed to blow off some steam before the race. Whatever the case, Krystal would start warming Fire up now. She asked the imperious filly for a slow gallop as well, and Fire obliged. Her gaze was glued on the form of Falsehood, but Krystal held her in. She would not chase after the gray three year old yet. That would come later.
As they began to warm up, Krystal thought over the field. Afterglow had a variable racing style. Silverianna was a preceder. Fire was a mid packer. The way Krystal saw it, the opening fractions would already be slow. No horse would want to take the lead. Knowing this, Krystal expected that Afterglow would go for the lead, with Silverianna behind. She and Fire would probably be numerous lengths off of the top two horses. Not too far behind, but not right up there with the pace either. At the half mile pole, they would begin to creep up on the outside of Silverianna. Then, when Silverianna went, they would go beside her, and Fire would be motivated both by Ianna and by the need to catch Afterglow that her speed would exponentially increase. Hopefully, this kind of strategy would be enough to get the win. They were definitely long shots, but Fire had the most experience in the field. For two year old races, that counted for a lot.
Sufficiently warmed up now, Krystal looked for Amber. She was coming around now on Falsehood, trotting. Krystal smoothly turned Fire around, slowing to a canter while she did so, and directed Fire towards Falsehood. Falsehood threw his head up as Fire approached, attempting to assert his dominance. Fire threw what could be a searing look at Falsehood, one of imperious arrogance, before taking her place on Falsehood's outside. Krystal slowed her to a trot and awaited the countdown. When it finally came, the two horses burst forward into racing gallops. As expected, Falsehood leaped right to the lead and opened up four lengths. He loved to be in front, and the Definite Glory son had enough sprint stamina to last out there. Krystal would never ride Fire in such a way, as her tactics were more strategic right now.
The first quarter mile flew by. Krystal examined Fire's pace and imagined the Juvenile Fillies. Afterglow would probably be where Falsehood was right now. Silverianna would be a length or so back, calmly biding her time. Fire would be even farther back. She didn't often play the closing game, but she was quite capable of it. Native Flame had been a variable runner himself, and mainly a closer from what Krystal could remember. Amber had often talked of running the field off of their hooves when she was aboard Impressario, and hoping they managed to get Native Flame off his game while doing so. Ario had been talented enough to run that way; the Triple Crown champion had had to do that to put off Native Flame when he had won the Juvenile. Fire was like her sire in that way, indeed. Determination burned in her eyes. At the half mile pole, she began to pick it up slightly, going with her instincts and wanting that win as badly as Krystal did.
With three furlongs left to go, Fire was beginning to close in. Krystal imagined them drawing up just outside of Ianna, and potentially boxing her in if they began to accelerate fast enough to reach Afterglow. But Krystal knew Afterglow would be fresh from having an unchallenged lead. It would definitely be a sprint off for the finish. Krystal's gaze narrowed as the two horses swept into the stretch. She led Fire fly, and the distance rapidly disappeared. But Amber knew Krystal's tactics as well as her own. She released Falsehood from his hold. The three year old quickened his stride, head pointed determinedly forward. Not to be beaten, Fire dug in and stretched. Her legs came faster, her stride going shorter as she began to sprint. Slowly, they drew up alongside Falsehood. Krystal thought that they had the older horse, when much to her surprise Amber asked for a little bit more and Falsehood gave. The pair won by a length over the determined bay filly and Krystal.
Slowing their mounts down afterward, Krystal considered the race. She had played it well, and Fire had simply been beaten by a better, more experienced horse today. But for the Juvenile Fillies, Fire would not be taken down so easily. She would go for it. She would eternally dance her way to that front, or keep trying until her own legs fell off. Such was her determination and her burning desire to feel victory once more.
