Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2012 3:24:40 GMT -5
Afterglow & Alana Stratt work for the Breeder's Cup Filly & Mare Sprint
The original intention had, as everyone knew, been to send Stormi to the Breeder's Cup Ladies' Classic. However, that had not worked out when the competition had come to light. While Stormi was a classic filly, she did not stand a chance against the likes of the Star Thoroughbred's mare Vindictive Fury. That mare had really come into herself in the last year, with a string of wins and high consistency which meant that she was in fine form for the Breeder's Cup. Beyond that, this was the mare's last racing season and so the Star Thoroughbreds team would no doubt be determined to take the win this year and who could really blame them?
Due to the Star Thoroughbreds' announcement, Stormi had been moved from the Ladies' Classic and into the Filly & Mare Sprint, which would take place over seven furlongs on dirt - a distance they could handle well enough, and in fact the distance of the Acorn Stakes which they had taken in amazing style earlier this year over their rival, Silverianna - a filly who had now reached Grade Two, leaving the Grade Three Afterglow in the dust. But Stormi could cope with being a grade behind, she would catch up soon enough.
Alana was determined to do well in the Breeder's Cup and make it two consecutive wins in the series. Their Juvenile win the previous year had been enough to prove the talent of the filly, but now a year later they needed to prove they still had the talent and class to take a win in the year-ending series. Plus, it was always nice to close out the year on a victory. It set a good tone for the year-end awards and, of course, the start of the new year. Alana knew the filly was among the best, she just had to prove it. Which they would, Alana knew they would.
The field for the race consisted of five horses, with Afterglow in gate five - not that there was a corner in such a short race, so how wide they were did not really matter. No, what mattered here was speed. When Alana had looked at the entries list, she had felt fairly confident in her ability to take Afterglow into a top position in that race. For starters, two of the entrants were definitely nothing to worry about due to low consistency and the others she was sure that they would be able to handle after a good work. After all, Stormi was well rested and a very strong racer.
Instead of gating the filly, Alana had decided to just gallop. It was the easiest way around things when she was feeling as impatient as she was to go galloping. The filly was not fussed either way, but Alana herself was filled with a need for victory and waiting around just wasn't part of her plan. So as they arrived at the track, Alana pushed the filly into a trot, then a fluid canter and finally to a gallop. The movement was fast, the filly's hooves sure on the dirt and kicking up mud behind them. The conditions were not great, the track sloppy and as the cold wind hit Alana's face she felt the chill in the air.
Alana urged the bay filly on a little and the pace picked up. It seemed that Stormi was fine on the track, despite conditions and was no more than a little affected as she adjusted to them. her dark eyes gleamed brightly, her audits pressed forwards as Alana remained in time with her stride, not pushing but not holding her back either. This was just a gallop, they would stop soon enough but it was no race. There was no need to put extra pressure on the filly, and Alana would not.
As the world passed by, Alana thought about the field and the race. Generally, she felt that Stormi could handle it, even if Seraphim and Mystical Melody did worry her a little. She would not let Stormi down, and Stormi would not let her down. The filly had broken through her barriers, they had bonded, and because of that she cared. This wasn't just about her, but the horse as well. But for now, it was time to slow down. She started to pull Afterglow out of the gallop, and soon they had slowed to a walk. Stormi was in great form.