accepting

[S u N f r O s t ~]

FIERY TOUCH AND KRYSTAL YHATE
BREEDERS CUP JUVENILE FILLIES WORKOUT

Fiery Touch was built like a filly. Slim, feminine, she moved with the grace typical of a willowy filly like herself. Her eyes were doe like, looking out with a sort of feminine charm that captured the hearts of any human that looked at her and made all the males go woozy. Except Fie wasn't a show off horse who needed attention. She just was. Nothing she did was ever aimed at bringing attention to herself or at highlighting herself in any way. She just did what she was asked to do and enjoyed what she was doing. There was no doubt that she was also a very pleasant horse to ride. Unlike the others of her age, she wasn't bratty, intimidating, moody, demanding, crazy...no. She was just pleasant, and the staff loved her for it. Krystal had had to work hard to win the filly's saddle, and she was happy that she had even though they had the least to show for it. Fie was far from impressive. She had only just started to place in the top three. Her last start had been her maiden win in July, after seven other tries. That was nothing impressive. Yet here they were, gearing up for the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies.

And why? For the competition. For the experience. For the thrill of the race. For the simple reason of giving Paradise Island something to prep for and Midnight Thriller a legitimate horse to defeat. The race was going to be an interesting one. As things stood right now, Paradise Island outclassed the competition and would take the win. There was not a shred of doubt in Krystal's mind. The Silver Stride filly was the Juvenile Fillies winner, and neither Fie nor Midtee would be able to upset this race. It just wasn't possible. Amber always told Krystal never to state certainties when prepping for a workout, but what else could be said? There was a certainty here. So why bother working for it at all? So they could go down fighting. Krystal was not the type to not give something her all simply because they stood no chance in hell. It went against the Stride Of Perfection moral code - go down fighting.

Fie looked out at the track, and her eyes were keen. The dirt was busier than the turf, and many many horses were working. Krystal eyed them warily. She disliked working when the track was this crowded, but this was her final chance to work Fie over the Green Horse Fields track before the Breeders Cup. Fie had otherwise been at the stable track, working in a relaxing way there, resting up for a hopeful Triple Tiara campaign. Yes. That was where they were going. And when they finally stood in the post parade for the first leg, they would give Paradise Island the run for her money that she probably wasn't going to get this time around. Not for lack of trying - but Fie had been a slower two year old to mature. She had started off slowly, gotten slower and then only started to understand what was going on in May. Then in July she had won her maiden race and been off the track to mature ever since. Now, five months later, she was back.

Krystal guided the filly with a light hand. They joined the trotting and cantering mass of horses warming up while the galloping horses streamed on by on the inside. She ignored those fast horses, focusing completely on Fie. This was her first workout on the main track in a while, and Fie was looking around curiously. Her nostrils flared as she inhaled the air, and her eyes glanced around. Her ears were alert, though, listening to her rider as she took in her surroundings. It made Krystal smile to see this filly acclimating as though she was a lot older. Some gazes had been drawn to them, seeing a well known rider riding an unknown horse, but they had quickly moved on when they found nothing classy to gape at. Their eyes were attracted to the horses clocking final breezes and gallops for the Breeders Cup, not to a juvenile filly who they had forgotten about so therefore likely wasn't competing.

Krystal upped the pace to a canter and prepared to join the crowd of horses working on the inside. Fie was moving carelessly now, not minding the crowded conditions. She analyzed those around her with the calm intelligence that had typified her as a closer. Paradise Island was the speed of the race, and Midtee was the stalker that would be watching her. It was likely that Sonja would run Midtee off of her feet and be blowing away by the time Fie showed up. They had nine furlongs to catch Sonja and attempt this upset. Krystal hoped against hope that they would succeed even as she conceded defeat in her soul. Sonja had this in the bag. They would be lucky to get within two lengths. As badly as she wanted it, she had to accept defeat. But in the Triple Tiara? Game on.

Krystal steered the bay two year old to the inner rail and went into a gallop. Fie accelerated slowly and calmly, tossing her head a bit as the breeze blew through her mane. Her eyes looked at the horses around her all the while, looking for competition. They were going quite fast, and they wound around a couple of horses as they went along. Each time they passed somebody, Fie fought for more rein. She wanted to widen the gap and catch the next horse. Krystal was hard pressed to hold the eager filly in. She was impressed by the filly's racing spirit. She was just such a racehorse - all she wanted was to break into daylight and leave the others behind. And who knew, she might even develop the talent to do so. Krystal was happy to help her every step of the way. Grinning, she imagined the race now. Seven furlongs done and two to go. Midtee was tiring slightly, and they went around her and attempted to run down Sonja, who was three lengths in front and pouring it on. The final furlong, and Sonja was only a length in front and struggling.

At the wire, Fie's nose would slide just ahead of Sonja's. They would take the race in a photo finish that would make headlines. Krystal grinned. She could taste the glory now, even as she realized how unlikely it was.