Post by Snowflake on Feb 18, 2012 23:26:56 GMT -5
NATURALLY CHARISMATIC AND SILVERIANNA WORK FOR THE ALABAMA STAKES*
Naturally Charismatic fidgeted under Sarah, focusing on every sight and sound rather than her rider's commands. Until Silverianna came out to join them, that's how it would be. Three year old Charis was a bit of a worry, sometimes. She'd recently filled out in all the right places, and her times had improved massively. Hopefully she'd perform well now, it was beginning to really matter.
Finally, Silverianna and Stella joined them. Suddenly, Charis was all business. Silverianna had been consistent, but we wanted her to be doing better. She had it in her blood to do alot better. Like Charis, the recent increase in work had the filly performing better in her workouts than ever. Breaking into canter, the fillies continued their warmup as they edged towards the four furlong poke, from which they would take off for their four furlong gallop.
They were entered in the Alabama Stakes*, in the first week of March. This weekend. It was the first of the Triple Tiara prep races, and how the pair performed here would hopefully be a reflection of how hard we had prepared them for it. There were only two other fillies in the field, Afterglow and Fire Dancer. Both were talented and well bred. Afterglow had beaten Silverianna in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies. She had a record of 14-4-3-2, and was by Sweet Sugar Cane and out of Luscia. Fire Dancer was by Native Flame and out of On To Dancing. Her race record was 17-2-6-5.
Silverianna's record was 14-3-5-4. Naturally Charismatic's was 7-1-1-1. Charis' lack of race experience was an obvious disadvantage, but Sarah hoped the recent workload would make up for that. Both thoroughbreds kept competitively abreast of one another. Both liked pretty much the same position of midfield to behind the leaders. As the four furlong pole loomed, the riders crouched lower and prepared to cue the fillies to gallop. As it flashed by, both sprang into gallop, and immediately were racing.
They flew around the turn, and into the homestretch. With two furlongs to go, they began to make their moves. Stella crouched lower on Silverianna's back, giving her more rein and urging her on. The filly took off, sprinting ahead. Sarah had already given Charis the cue. The bay filly wasn't about to lose, and exploded into her top speed, gaining slightly on Ianna.
Half a furlong to go! Ianna was still ahead, by half a length. Come on Charis, show her what you've got.. Sarah called to her filly, urging her on with all she had. Charis responded, putting on a burst of speed that brought her neck and neck with Silverianna again, just as they passed the finish by. Good race! Sarah said, grinning and slapping Stella a high five. Stella grinned back. I'm not sure who was ahead, that was really close! Both scratched their fillies necks affectionately, and made their way off the dirt. They were ready to race. And ready to win.
