Post by Snowflake on Sept 30, 2012 5:59:01 GMT -5
EUPHORIA'S WARRIOR WORKS FOR THE KENTUCKY DERBY WITH SUNSET CRUSADE
Today was a special workout for a special race with two very special horses. The pair of colts were half brothers through their sire, Akuma Battlecry. The elder of the two was Sunset Crusade, and the other Euphoria's Warrior. Marissa Star rode Cruze, while Stella Mackenzie rode Warrior. Both riders were extremely proud to do so. Sunset Crusade was four years old. Last year he had run in and won the Kentucky Derby. This year was Warrior's turn. The three year old colt had had an excellent start to the year, winning his fourth of seven starts two weeks ago. He was a top contender for the Derby, and the Triple Crown. But the competition was fierce, they knew. With only three entrants, and all of them had beaten one another at least once, this Kentucky Derby was going to be hard to win, like always.
Warrior's dam was Euphoria. Euphoria had raced in the Derby six years ago now, and had placed third. She was eventually inducted into the Hall Of Fame, after earning a race record of 65-25-14-13. Her parents were HOF True Enough and HOF Bank On Silver, both amazing racehorses and producers of amazing racehorses. Warrior's sire, Akuma Battlecry, had also raced in the Kentucky Derby, placing an unlucky fifth in a large field. His sire Admiral's Revenge, however, was a Triple Crown Champion. Euphoria's Warrior was definitely a well bred horse, as a stallion and a racehorse. He would do his best to win this race.
Beginning with a warm up, the pair considered the Kentucky Derby competition. It was barely necessary, since they'd analysed the same competition many times before. In gate one was Eternal Phantom. Sired by Night Stalker, and out of El Sol Del Mar, the filly was seriously well bred. Interestingly enough, El Sol Del Mar and Euphoria had raced in the Kentucky Derby against one another in Y6. El Sol Del Mar had been the victor. Now it was between their offspring. SOPS had trained and raced Eternal Phantom well. The black thoroughbred filly had taken the Blue Grass Stakes from under Warrior's nose, and had also won the Santa Anita Derby, in which Warrior had not run.
Instant Success had not been bred for success, but his owners Silver Stride Stables had definitely brought out a champion in him. The three year old chestnut colt had run an impressive season thus far, though admittedly mostly against lesser competition. The only Triple Crown preparation race he'd run in was the Florida Derby, two weeks ago, in which Warrior had won, Eternal Phantom had placed, and Instant Success had placed third. He was not to be counted out though, because he had been a strong contender all last year and had continued to be so this year, against different horses.
Euphoria's Warrior had this season won four of seven starts. All of his starts had been in big races. Three of his wins had been in Triple Crown prep races. They were the Wood Memorial Stakes, the Louisiana Derby and the Florida Derby. He'd also won the Unicorn Horn Colts Dirt back in January. He'd also placed second in the Blue Grass Stakes, the Bank On Silver Memorial and third in the Spring Cup.
Stella felt like she was on top of the world. Warrior's stride was smooth, strong and energetic. He was in his prime, and had never been so fit. He was content after winning his last race, but Stella knew the colt would be raring to go and win again the moment he stepped foot on the track on race day. He would give the crowd what they came for - a great race. Whether he won it or not, Warrior would put everything he had into it. And if Eternal Phantom or Instant Success won it, there would be no losing the Preakness Stakes.
The time to gallop had arrived. The two colts surged forward, side by side, with Sunset Crusade inching his nose into the lead. They would only do four furlongs, enough to get their blood going but not satisfy the colts. Their strides were powerful, and becoming more so with each passing moment. They thundered towards the turn, eyeing one another competitively. Stella's mind momentarily wandered. This would be the time when moves were made, on race day. Eternal Phantom will be in the lead, most likely. Then Instant Success would probably be behind her, just in front of Warrior. As the turn leveled into the straight, Stella would let Warrior go. And he would give it his all.
Now, as the turn really did straighten out and the track stretched before them, the two colts increased their speed automatically. Their riders had instructions not to really let them go, however. They had to stay nose to nose, the whole way. That was neither colt would be happy with the outcome of the workout, and would definitely work doubly as hard to win their next races. Warrior was determined, and so was Cruze. They accelerated, although restricted, and had their eyes on each other the whole way to the end. Cruze was ready for his next conquest, and Warrior was ready for the Derby. He was determined to win it, as much as his rider.
