debut

[Snowflake]

BORN TO IMPRESS AND DYSPHORIA WORK FOR THE LEGACY DIRT STAKES*
STALKER'S GLORY WORKS FOR BACK IN BLACK MAIDEN

Their first races were quickly approaching. This was in fact their last gallop before the races, so they were going to make it good. It was two weeks since Sarah had discovered she was pregnant, and James wouldn't let her ride. So Marissa pretty much had to ride all of Sarah's mounts until they found someone who could take over full time. Hopefully that would be by the end of the month, in time for the Unicorn Horn Series..

Stella rode next to them on Dysphoria. The chestnut filly was giving her some attitude today, and kept baring her teeth at Impress, who snorted at her every time. It was quite amusing. Then there was Stalker's Glory on Dysphoria's other side, clearly in the filly's good books. They warmed up at a trot for a while, doing a few warm up exercises where they could, then switched to canter after about fifteen minutes. They were just going to do a four furlong breeze today, to work off the excess energy and make sure they were on their toes for race day. Their first race day...

Born To Impress and Dysphoria were entered in the Legacy Dirt Stakes. It was a maiden series for offspring of Hall Of Fame inductees only. The race was ten furlongs on the dirt, and although it was a small field of five, there were some excellent young horses entered. In gate one was Sweet Inferno. The filly was from Stride Of Perfection Stables, out of HOF Sweet Stalker and by Crooked Fire. In gate two was A Royal Legacy, from Akita Rose Stables. The colt was out of g1 mare Queen Of Hearts and by HOF Merry Bay King. He was essentially Impress's uncle, and was probably the last of Merry Bay King's offspring. He had already started once, for fourth place.

Next was Wish Upon A Star, in gate three. The filly was out of Warm Wishes, and by HOF Everyday Hero. Therefore she was a half sister to both Vindictive Fury and Beyond The Limits. Born To Impress had drawn gate four, and Dysphoria gate five. In the small field, they were still not bad positions. Both horses were preceders, so it wouldn't be difficult to get into their positions from here. Without knowing the racing positions of the other entrants, it was impossible to tell how the race would play out. They could only hope that the pair were ready for it.

Stalker's Glory was entered in the Back In Black Maiden. It was a large field of nine, with some horses having already raced before. In gate one was Loud And Clear from Dreamvalley Stables. She'd raced the last two weeks running, so it was incredibly risky to send her into this race as well. Also from Dreamvalley Stables was Poesian Wings, who had like his stablemate raced in January Week 1 and 2. Because they would definitely be fatigued from their two races in two weeks, Blaze was counting them out of the running.

Van Guard from Triple Krown Racing was to start from gate three. The colt was half to The Devil's Touch and would be one to look out for. The next entrant was Barely Legal from Close Racing. The filly was in an even worse situation than the pair from Dreamvalley, as she had already raced three times in two weeks. Another one Blaze counted out. Dirty Diana was next. She was from Akita Rose Stables and out of Lusitania. Clearly her bloodlines were excellent, but her first start had resulted in a disappointing 6th.

Sierra Nevada from Kacey Hill Racing would start from gate six. She had no race experience yet. Golden Ghost of Prison Hill Stables would break from gate seven. He was a very attractive palomino sabino. It remained to be seen however if he had any talent for racing. C'est Impossible, also from Prison Hill, would start from gate eight. She had started twice already even though it was only the third week of the year, and therefore Blaze counted her out. Stalker's Glory had drawn a crappy gate position, by normal standards, but since she was a closer and would be running at the back of the pack it would not be a problem. Blaze felt quite confident of her chances.

They burst into gallop on cue, instantly racing one another. They took the turn fast, none of them willing to slow down, and entered the home stretch fighting. The three riders urged their horses on. Dysphoria was fighting hard, but it was Impress who was beginning to get ahead, Gloria following. With only a furlong to go, each two year old put on a final burst of speed which saw Impress over the line first, by only a neck. The margin between Gloria and Dee was too close to call. They galloped out, and slowed gradually, both satisfied with their horses. Impress may have more speed, by a small margin, but there was no telling how the race would play out. Either way, they were ready to make their debuts.

[Snowflake]

NATURALLY A FLYER AND NATURE'S DREAM WORK FOR LEGACY TURF STAKES*

After dismounting and handing off Impress and Dee to their grooms, Marissa and Stella took on their next mounts, Nature's Dream and Naturally A Flyer. The pair were half brother and sister, and were quite close. Before Marissa and Stella mounted up, they were grooming each other. Beginning with trotting, they warmed up on the turf track. By now the track was busier, so they stayed to the outer rail while they were loosening up.

They broke into canter after about fifteen minutes trotting, each considering the race they would run with these two horses this coming weekend. They were entered in the Legacy Turf Stakes, which was a race in the maiden series for Hall of Fame inductee offspring only, and run over ten furlongs on turf. Both Nattie and Dream had both parents entered in the Hall Of Fame. It was a small six horse field, meaning the pair were up against each other and just four other horses.

Gate one had been drawn by The Rising, who was their half brother. Ri had had an unfortunate season as a two year old, which had lead to him being sold to Triple Krown Racing, an up and coming stable. Now three years old, he had the advantage of both maturity and experience over the rest of the field. Ventura was in the next gate, from Stride of Perfection Stables. It was going to be difficult for Marissa to race against her, since she was a Rising Fury filly by Impressario. She had raced once two weeks ago for third place.

Gate three would hold Italian Ice, of Silver Stride Stables. By Impressario and out of Cute Italian, this filly was going to be one to beat. Classic Nutcase from Prison Hill Stables was their final opponent. The filly was out of The True Nut and by Passionate Class. Naturally A Flyer was to start from gate five, under Stella. She was by The Natural and out of Simply A Flyer, both of whom had been excellent turf horses and both were entered in the Hall Of Fame. Nature's Dream had drawn the last gate, number six. He was also by The Natural and was out of Dare To Dream, also entered in the Hall of Fame and excellent on both surfaces.

At the four furlong pole, the pair broke into gallop on cue. They were immediately racing, each competitively trying to keep ahead of the other. It was like when they raced in the paddock, only there wasn't a fence between them and they were carrying riders. There was amazing sibling rivalry between these two. Nattie was on the inside, so as they rounded the turn she got ahead by a neck.

As the turn straightened into the home stretch, the two young thoroughbreds really began to pour on the speed. Their riders urged them on, but it was the desire to beat the other that made them try so hard. In the end, Dream managed to lunge forward and take the win by a whisker. They were ready for their first races

[Snowflake]

CALAMITY QUEEN AND BLAZING KISS WORK FOR MAGIC WAND MAIDEN

Blaze and Stella could hardly believe that it had come so quickly. The first races for all their two year olds were just a matter of days away, and they could not be more ready for their debuts. Stella mounted up on Calamity Queen, Blaze on Blazing Kiss, and the pair headed off up the track. The turf felt springy underfoot, and the horses even springier. They began their warm up with a trot.

The two fillies were due to run in the Magic Wand Maiden, which was eight furlongs on turf for two year olds only. It was a field of six, meaning they were up against four other horses. In gate one, was Wind Reader of Dreamvalley Stables. She'd already raced twice in the last two weeks, and therefore was not being considered a threat. Jazzaway of Akita Rose Stables had drawn gate two. He had one race experience, resulting in fourth.

Fifteen minutes of trotting and they moved on into canter, still considering the competition. Lost In Memories of Kacey Hill Racing had drawn gate four, after a horse had been scratched from gate three. The filly was actually Blazing Kiss's half sister so it would be interesting to see how she did. She had raced once before, for second place. Finally there was Himeros from Prison Hill Stables, who had already raced twice in two weeks this year and therefore was not being considered a threat, because he would be fatigued.

At the four furlong pole, the fillies burst into gallop on cue. Calamity Queen immediately took the lead and then tried to run away with it. But Blazing Kiss wasn't about to be left behind and Queenie only got ahead by a half length. They rounded the turn and accelerated into the straight. Blazing Kiss made her move, drawing level with Queenie before the other filly and rider started their run. Queenie's ears flattened, and this time the dominant filly did pull away from Kiss, but won by only a neck.

The pair galloped out, sweat darkening their already dark coats. They were ready for their first race.