Post by S u N f r O s t ~ on Apr 16, 2012 20:40:44 GMT -5
FLASHY WINGS AND HENNA TURATH
FIRE DANCER AND KRYSTAL YHATE
TDI LIVE THIS LIE AND AMBER BLACK
FLASH'S WORKOUT FOR THE BELMONT STAKES
FIRE'S WORKOUT FOR THE COACHING CLUB AMERICAN OAKS
When SOPS brought out three horses for a workout against each other, you knew that they meant business. Three jockeys rode at SOPS. Three horses meant every jockey would be competing against the other for a top spot. It was easy an extremely ambitious workout. But this was no ordinary workout. The last legs of the Triple Crown and the Triple Tiara were running, and Fire and Flash were going to be at again - with a new competitor, Falsehood, also here. Falsehood would provide the seasoned edge to the race, preparing them for more experienced competition. He was also here because he seriously needed the work. As for Fire and Flash, their races were coming, and if they both won the results would be tremendous. Flash would have captured two thirds of the Crown and would become a grade one. Fire would have beaten her new rivals Afterglow and Silverianna and would become a grade four. So as one could imagine, Krystal and Henna wanted the win badly.
The horse in the most rambunctious mood today was, surprisingly, Flashy Wings. For once, the colt was acting his young age of three, and was positively bouncing on the track. Henna couldn't help but grin at the similarities between him and his half brother Pegasus Wings. Asus was always like this, while Flash was like this only occasionally. In both colts, the trait came from their silly dam, Forbidden Wings, who was constantly moving. The most serious of the trio was Fire Dancer, but that was hardly surprising. The tall filly was intimidating and serious minded, rarely light hearted. Currently she was evaluating her competition and adopting a serious mindset about it. Meanwhile, Falsehood, the last of the three, just seemed calm. His head was held up high in a way that showed his clear dominance without actually fighting for it. Neither of the horses he was showing it too fought against it, so for now he was happy.
The workout today was a serious mile race. Their actual next starts were about a week off, and some serious competitive tension needed to be eased. Henna was nervous about Flash. The Belmont was the death ground of many a horse. Flash had handled the distance before, of course, and he was ready. Henna just wanted the win badly. One more win, and they'd be grade one. Henna wanted that title. As for Krystal, she hadn't lost hope yet. Placing third in both legs of the Triple Tiara to the same two horses could gave a severe knock on morale, but for her Fire had been waiting for this. She could easily handle the distance and everything. It was only a matter of timing, practice and desire now.
The pace was quickly accelerated to a canter. The bouncing motion was so close yet so far from a gallop. At the faster pace, Flash snorted in excitement and went for more rein. Henna held her prize colt in firmly, not wanting to let him get ahead of himself. Fire tried to act indifferent, but she was dying to run Flash down. Krystal could feel the extra tension in the reins that told her this. Yet she had to hold Fire in for now. The gallop would come, and then Fire would get to run as fast as she wanted. As for Falsehood, he was content to just lope along for now. He knew the run would come, and being the most seasoned of the bunch he was not about to get ahead of himself in his quest to get there.
Now the thoroughbreds - and their riders - were dying for a gallop. Everybody dove into their own desires as they passed under the wire and finally accelerated into a gallop. As expected, Falsehood took the early lead. Flash settled himself comfortably just off of his flank, and Fire ran three lengths off of the other two horses in a closer position. In all truth she was a mid packer, but in small fields she did adopt the closing position. But with Falsehood and Flash, it was always the same position. Flash stalked the pace, and Falsehood set it. Though in fields where the competition was stiffer than usual, Falsehood would allow some other horses to challenge for the lead, and Flash would come from the outside and sit closer to the pace. Fire would probably be at the front of the pack in such situations.
The first quarter passed by. Amber, aboard Falsehood, glanced down at her watch. They had run the quarter in an easy 24 seconds. It was time to pick it up a bit. Amber shook the reins slightly, and Falsehood picked it up. He left Flash two lengths behind before settling comfortably again. Behind them, Krystal was guiding Fire to sit just to the right of Flash's flank, in excellent stalking position. Flash remained motionless. Henna saw no need to move at this early stage. There was plenty of race left. At the half, which was run is 47 seconds, Krystal got Fire going a bit faster. Flash was already accelerating of his own accord. Together, the two three year olds closed on their senior, eating the distance away. But Amber held Falsehood in. She would let them come, for now.
Three quarters of the way through, and Falsehood was still going strong. Fire and Flash had narrowed the distance and were coming up directly behind him. Fire had already swung to the outside of Falsehood, boxing in Flash. Henna, annoyed, slowed Flash slightly, letting the other two get in front of them before steering him to the outside for the final turn. This was Fire's signature moment. The daughter of DW Flamekissed turned it on and ran it for home. She swept past Falsehood, whom Amber hand't gotten going yet, and looked intent on stealing the win. Henna got Flash going too, and they soon caught up to Falsehood, who appeared to be faltering.
The race was on to catch Fire. Flash and Henna left Falsehood behind, soaring up to meet Fire's challenge. Eye to eye, stride for stride, the two thoroughbreds intently met the other. Cautiously, Krystal glanced back to see Falsehood regaining his stride and restarting his charge, before turning forward and continuously urging Fire for more. Flash was under a similar drive. It was truly a battle of will now. Entering the final furlong, Amber had Falsehood going at a decent clip. They were beginning to draw up alongside Fire now. Suddenly, Fire burst forward with renewed vigor. She hadn't wanted to place second again. Her quick bid for the lead left little time for the other two jockeys to react. Flash was just beginning to nose his way over to challenge once more when they crossed the wire.
Henna could feel her frustration, but somewhere inside her knew that had the race been twelve furlongs and the Belmont, they wouldn't have gotten boxed in and wouldn't have lost. Meanwhile, even though they placed last, Amber looked quietly pleased with Falsehood. Krystal was simply ecstatic with Fire, and was currently stroking the filly's neck affectionately. All three felt that somewhere in the future, the time for ascendance was coming, and this was a stepping stone along that path.
