Post by S u N f r O s t ~ on Feb 3, 2014 19:09:19 GMT -5
CALL OF THE WILD AND KRYSTAL YHATE
IN THE SPOTLIGHT AND VALENCIA ANDREWS
WORKOUT FOR PRINCE CUP/PRINCESS CUP
It was mid-March and the competition for major three year old series was really heating up. Amber Black glared in particular at the fourth week in April, a week she had outlined in bold red Sharpie and scrawled furious plans across. The Turf Triple Crown had been a sore spot for the past couple of seasons as her horses continuously failed to perform to expectations - some failures the direct result of her own actions. Well, this season she was in high form and she was refusing to send her charges in unprepared. SOPS was going in guns firing and it would take hell to stop them on their warpath. Her eyes flickered to her workout schedule for the week, tacked up next to the calendar. A smile flitted across her face. It was time to work out the stable's top Turf Triple Crown contender and top Turf Triple Tiara contender for their starts this week, both key starts in the progress of their three year old careers. She turned away, glanced at her watch and walked out to the turf GHF track.
Her charges awaited her. A smile appeared once more as she observed their conditions from a distance. Call of the Wild, related to some of the most illustrious names in turf racing, looked quietly confident as he stood with Krystal Yhate, straight-backed as always but relaxed, in the saddle. The bay had grown to sixteen hands of muscled perfection and looked handsome. His eyes gleamed with eagerness and a spark of something Amber had not seen as a juvenile - competitive spirit. Oh yes, even the most well mannered horse to ever come out of SOPS was developing quite the spark. Affection gentled Krystal's gaze as she played with his black mane and dreamed of the Turf Triple Crown. Amber's face was thoughtful as she considered what Call had accomplished thus far. He was a good colt, but he was not the best - yet. He was still in development. His second in the Coronation Cup three weeks ago had proved he had some class and he was coming in fresh to the Prince Cup and the Derby Stakes. These were his final starts before the Kentucky Open and Amber was hoping for a fantastic showing.
Her gaze switched to In The Spotlight. She was also related to fantastic turf bloodlines on all sides, but contrary to all expectations had grown into more of a miler. The Turf Triple Tiara was perhaps the most competitive of the three year old series this year and Innie was one of those fabled horses contending it. Her problem was that she continuously bounced around in form. In January she had been slightly off form before roaring to victory in the All Along Stakes. Shortly afterwards, her form had bobbled again much to the frustration of her rider Valencia. Aggression simmered in the apprentice jockey's eyes, and Innie stood with the readiness of a snake poised to strike as her jockey's mood affected her own. The chestnut filly had just brought home two straight fourth place finishes, but despite that Amber felt that the filly was coming back into form for the Princess Cup. Her race last week had left the filly hungering, and Valencia was always hungry. Amber admired the pair and considered them to still be in strong contention for the Turf Tiara. They would just have to prove it.
Krystal saw Amber hovering at the track rail, calculations simmering in her green eyes, and sighed. Look Valencia - she's been staring at us this whole time! Valencia's eyes snapped to Amber, and she glared. What, does it look like we have a lot of time? We have to get to the Wire too! Krystal sighed as Innie snorted sharply, ears pinning in unusual aggression as Valencia fired the chestnut right up. Can it Andrews. Here she comes now. Amber was on the approach, a glow in her eyes that only lit up when she was watching horses exceed her expectations - or expected them to do so. Hello there ladies. I want a mile and a quarter gallop with a two furlong breeze at the end. Come at her hard in the end, Krystal. Valencia, make sure Innie doesn't fizzle out. Valencia snorted. What else am I here for? She wheeled the chestnut filly around and they were off. Krystal smirked at Valencia's attitude and followed her, leaving a smirking Amber to admire the thoroughbreds from behind.
In The Spotlight immediately took the lead as they accelerated to a gallop. It was in her nature to lead from start to finish, to be in the spotlight for as long as possible. Valencia immediately hunkered down, fingers tight on the reins as she let Innie coast at cruising speed. Call's gaze glinted with cunning as she placed himself at the rail two lengths behind, his long legs gliding over the turf as he plotted a course to his target. Krystal felt the brain of the colt whirring and smiled widely. They were going to need tactics like this to get through the Turf Triple Crown unscathed. If they were facing a horse like Innie and just Innie, they would have to adopt a different race strategy and pressure her a bit more, or just trust in being fast enough to catch her. Seeing as this was not a race but a workout, Krystal trusted in the ability of her mount to capture his prey by the quarter pole.
Valencia and Innie were in no rush at all as they sharply galloped through the first half mile. Call was two lengths behind and remained steady. Valencia smirked, deciding to shake things up a bit, and urged Innie a bit faster. The chestnut opened up gladly, coasting away to put another two lengths between her and the closer before shutting down once more. Krystal frowned as Innie got farther away from them, as if she was saying Catch me if you can. Nevertheless, she still believed in Call's abilities. Oh Call, they're underestimating us she whispered softly. But you've got a closing kick the likes of which nobody is expecting. It was true - the bay's kick as increasing in potency with every race. He was developing into a fine tuned monster that the racing world likely would not see coming. Krystal would love to surprise them even more by stealing the Turf Triple Crown, and she hoped that they could somehow do it. Good riding and tactics would get them there, and she knew that they couldn't leave Innie to cakewalk the lead the whole way around.
They bounded past the mile marker in no time at all. Innie was leading by five lengths now and Krystal could feel that Call was ready to go get her. She let Call out slightly and the bay colt obeyed instantly, his legs churning as he accelerated to his closing pace. He still cut close to the rail, but as he effortlessly narrowed the gap between Innie and himself he drifted more to the outside and prepared to swoop down. They hit the quarter and now it was time to strike. Three lengths became two, one. Innie accelerated just as they hit her side and bounded away in a swooping motion. Valencia cursed and Krystal laughed as the pure speed of Call in flight overcame here. This was just fantastic. Innie recovered herself quickly and furiously set off in pursuit. Her spotlight had been taken away and she was not to be denied for long.
The chestnut caught up, barely, just as they hit the end. Slowing down, the filly blew past them in the gallop out, legs strong and sure, just as Call snorted and Krystal whooped in triumph. It had been a fantastic workout. Both Call and Innie were thirsting for the win and ready to go.
