Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2013 3:33:48 GMT -5
The week before had been a good one for the two fillies. Bella won her race over Sugar Jayde and Spitting Image, whereas Lucy placed second, behind Sweetness Unlimited, though that was expected. This week, they were entered in the Green Horse Sprints. Bella would be racing over the turf against Prideful Limits, Sophie's Voice and Cross My Heart, whereas Lucy would be racing against Daydream over the dirt. Both horses were up against some tough competition, and it would be hard for them both, but this year, they weren't giving up without a fight. Bella ran an okay four year old season, but it wasn't as good as she could've been. This year, Jacey was aiming to impress with the five-year-old daughter of Little Miss Innocent.
Bella's race seemed quite strong. Starting in Gate One was Prideful Limits, a horse formally owned by Silver Stride Stables. Perry had a good record for a grade four. He had four wins, four places, and seven shows, placing out the money three times. He'd seen working alongside Demonic Desires a couple of weeks ago, and he definitely looked fighting fit, even though he placed a third in his first start, the New Year Turf Sprint. He was a threat, and one to watch. He was a front runner, meaning the pace of this race would be insane.
Starting in Gate Three would be another formally owned by Silver Stride horse, Sophie's Voice. The filly won the Next Top Racehorse Series back in Year 11, and was looking to impress come year twelve. She was lightly raced throughout last year, but still managed to claim three wins, two places and three shows. She looked promising, and a potential filly for a couple of Triple Tiara preps too. Soph was a front runner, but could run as a preceder, meaning that this was a front runner heavy race, leaving them all at major disadvantages, but if they were all front runners, they'd all be fighting for the front, but we had a strategy with Bella.
Gate Four held Cross My Heart. She was definitely one of the stronger horses in this race today. Cross was an insane filly. She was also a front runner, or, a leader… which meant our strategy would come into play quite easily with Cross leading. She had six wins, and eight places. She hadn't placed out the top two. Cross was one of the best fillies that Jacey had seen, but Lucy had beaten her a couple of times, and she'd beaten Lucy a couple of times. Now it was time to step Bella up a gear.
Lucy's race consisted of one other runner. The four year old filly, Daydream. Daydream had beaten Lucy once when she was a two year old, where Lucy managed to take second over Fiery Touch and Sweeto Cheeto. Daydream was a front runner, and Lucy was a preceder, meaning that the race was already set out. Daydream would lead the race, Lucy would linger in behind, and that, was how the workout would go between them today. Bella would lead, Lucy in behind.
Both fillies were walked on to the track. Ears flickered, eyes looked around, and noses warmth into the cold air. The fillies trotted round the bend in unison, and Jacey rode Bella in front, and they rocked into a canter. They were going to breeze for half a mile then work for the final two furlongs. As they came to the six furlong mark, both fillies breezed lightly over the turf surface.
They rounded the bend and came into the lane, where both fillies picked it up a gear. Jacey drove Bella forward and Ivana shook the reins on Lucy. They came alongside each other and heads were bobbing. The jockeys pushed on, they were all out, and on the wire, Bella's experience took the victory over the three year old by a nose. Good workout Ivana! Both fillies stretched out and cooled off. The jockeys dismounted and walked back to the barn, horses by their side.