Post by S u N f r O s t ~ on Oct 7, 2013 18:52:37 GMT -5
FIRE DANCER AND KRYSTAL YHATE
SWEET INFERNO AND VALENCIA ANDREWS
PREP FOR PALM TREE PARADISE INVITATIONAL
To ride a horse was to share in its emotions and feelings. The closer you got to the horse, the stronger those feelings became. Such was life between Fire Dancer and Krystal Yhate. Their feelings were strong upon first contact with the saddle and first touch of the reins. The daughter of Native Flame embodied nothing less than strong, bold feelings. And it was those feelings that Krystal now knew like the back of her hand. Four years of racing together, and now they stood on the precipice of the end of it all. A journey that Krystal would never forget. She had had horses she had weaned and trained from the get go leave before, but it was always painful, and you always remembered them. The fit athlete that was Fire Dancer would soon be one of those horses, and Krystal embraced it all with a lingering sadness as well as the pride of a friend congratulating a friend. The tall, intimidating Fire was hers. Nothing would change that. And they had races to win. The second to last start of Fire's career was in the Palm Tree Paradise Invitational, a race that Fire would actually be defending her title in, being the winner last year. After this race they were off to the Marathon.
Fire had never been ranked highly, but her win in the Donn Handicap last out showed a horse on her toes and ready to run fast. The mare had mountains of stamina and plenty of ability to get the job done. She may not have been ranked as highly as Eternal Phantom or the rest, but she was the veteran and there was no horse more reliable for a stamina grueling workout in the barn. Sweet Inferno, her competitor for today and fellow entrant in the Palm Tree Paradise, was of similar status. The daughter of Crooked Fire and Sweet Stalker was the most surprising horse in the industry, with the capable to consecutively be the best and the worst in her races. And when Sweetie was at her best...the world stopped to stare. This black lightning rod of a filly could take the win gate to wire. She had done that in the Belmont Stakes, her first coming out against the world, and she had proved her class again in the Climax Cup. The Palm Tree was against older horses and was the lowest grade in the field, but Sweetie thrived in situations where it seemed doubtful she could land the win. This situation somewhat qualified, though arrogant jockey Valencia Andrews would never admit to that.
The two horses met together on the dirt track. The breeze blew and the mares and riders felt their blood quicken. It was time to race that wind. Amber gazed at the two mares she had formulated the existence of, eyes shining with pride. Championship season was when SOPS wanted to make their horses shine the most, and these two were carriers of that legacy. She nodded in assent and the two wheeled away to begin their workout. The two marathoners had sleekly muscled bodies, toned but not overly so. They bragged of nothing less than tremendous, boundless power in every stride. It was the trademark of their styles. And both exuded absolutely heady auras of intensity. Sweetie's personality was overwhelming at the best of times and absolutely too intense to take at the worst. Her daring attitude crackled in the air, a challenge to the five year old who prowled on her inside. Fire Dancer did not react. The tall bay mare simply continued to gallop with her long, Native Flame strides and didn't turn an ear at Sweetie's conduct.
Mare versus mare, the battle continued even at this canter as their muscles loosened. Their eyes brightened as the pace quickened. Finally, the two jockeys let their horses go. Valencia leaned forward with a wild laugh and Sweet Inferno reacted with a blazing burst of speed. The black filly was gone, her legs a blur as she absolutely clocked it to the far turn. The marathoner seemed to be going fast, but she was really just getting started. Krystal didn't even have to start Fire up. It was like Fire read her mind as Krystal leaned forward, and together they took off after Sweetie. Fire's eyes were glowing with the quiet purpose her rider felt as well. They had a horse to catch. Her long strides covered ground so much faster than they should. Krystal let the mare float, a small smile on her face as she counted down the furlongs to their final charge. With Fire being the way she was, the best strategy was to close from behind right at the end. Her closing drive could seal the deal if Sweetie wasn't ready for them.
Two furlongs, four, six swept by. The marathoners weren't feeling any of the furlongs flashing by. They could go on forever if their riders wanted them to. But it was time to run this down to a close. Krystal barely had to move before Fire was going. In long, blurring strides the seventeen hands high mare got into action. She chopped away at Sweetie's lead while the filly apparently remained blissfully unaware. Truthfully, Valencia was holding back her cackles and keeping Sweetie at her pace. She waited and waited for Fire to come up, and when she did she released the cannon. Sweetie charged forward with a fury glistening in her eyes that would make the most resilient of horses quake in terror. But Krystal had predicted this move, known it was coming. She asked Fire for an extra burst, timing it almost perfectly. They slid to the outside of Sweetie and remained stride for stride in a drive down to the wire.
The mares mightily kicked up dirt behind them, their fury mounting as neither could shake off the other. The dirt created a storm of dust, and from that dust emerged the inferno. There was no stopping these two mares until they hit the wire, dead even and craving more. In the interest of victory, they were slowed and cooled out together, but not before their riders exchanged a cool glance. It was on in the Palm Tree. Would Fire defend her title, or would it be time for the youth in Sweetie to take her place? Race day would tell all.
