Post by Snowflake on Aug 28, 2012 19:12:27 GMT -5
EUPHORIA'S WARRIOR AND AFTER DUSK WORK FOR LOUISIANA DERBY
Next on Warrior's hit list was the Louisiana Derby. He'd come second in the Bluegrass Stakes to Eternal Phantom, and was very determined to win next time out. In this moment, he was currently doing all he could to keep ahead of After Dusk - while they were walking down to the dirt track. After Dusk did exactly the same. She'd won her last two starts, and that fact certainly didn't make her any less competitive.
They reached the dirt and began to trot on cue. Because Stella was now the regular rider for both horses, Marissa had the delight of riding Warrior, who was very very similar to his half brother Lusitania's Soldier. Their dams were twins, so they were practically twins, too. Stella watched Warrior move wistfully. It was always tough when two of her regular horses went head to head, and she had to choose between them. Star Thoroughbreds were in the process of hiring another jockey, which should have happened when Sarah fell pregnant but was only really started when they'd had a large number of horses arrive.
On into canter, the pair were getting more and more competitive. It was between the riders, too - Marissa and Stella were frenemies, kinda. Marissa was just so manipulative at times, it was difficult to trust her. Marissa turned to grin at Stella, and asked what she thought of Dusty's chances. Thoughts faded into the race, then. Of course Warrior had a pretty good chance of winning, but what about After Dusk? She'd come up short last time she'd faced one of the race favourites, Forbidden To Fly. And that colt was doing really well. Stella smirked slightly. Little wonder - he was half brother to Seraphim. Although, Seraphim could be doing better.
Forbidden To Fly was not a Triple Crown contender, for one simple reason. He couldn't go the distance. Otherwise, the colt was perfectly talented at nine furlongs, or less. But here he was, in a TC prep race. Daydream of Oak Hill Farm was another horse out of contention for that reason, but was entered in the Louisiana Derby anyway. Because it was 8.5 furlongs, and both of those two ran 6-9. Stella realised only one horse in the Louisiana Derby would be going to the Triple Crown, and that was Euphoria's Warrior. After Dusk was out because she, like Forbidden To Fly and Daydream, could not run further than nine furlongs. Warrior had to win! She should be riding him..
Interestingly enough, the four entrants complimented each other perfectly in terms of running styles. Daydream was a front runner. After Dusk was a preceder. Forbidden To Fly ran mid pack, and Euphoria's Warrior was a closer. They were now quickly approaching the four furlong pole, and the sense of excitement was heightening. The horses were still arguing over who got to keep their nose in front, despite neither being a front runner. Then they were off, pounding away at a full racing gallop.
At first, there was no change. It was nose to nose, from the remainder of the backstraight to the beginning of the stretch. But then Warrior really took flight, as though he'd grown wings. He powered ahead of Dusty to win by half a length. Marissa was grinning ear to ear, and so was Stella. She was disappointed that Dusty hadn't been able to get up the same speed as Warrior, but then she realised she'd wanted the colt to win all along. She wanted to ride a Derby winner. Or Preakness, or Belmont. Or all three. Marissa had had Furious Passion and Sunset Crusade. Sarah had had Born To Soar. It was Stella's turn, and she wanted to ride Euphoria's Warrior to win in the Y12 Triple Crown.
