Post by S u N f r O s t ~ on Apr 21, 2014 10:10:18 GMT -5
IN THE SPOTLIGHT AND VALENCIA ANDREWS
ALUCARD AND HENNA TURATH
INNIE'S WORKOUT FOR THE DEBUTANTE STAKES
Henna Turath was still furious as she nearly ran Amber Black over with her horse. And tell me again, why did you put Alucard and me in the Santa Anita Derby? she snarled. Alucard, being the ice cold colt that he was, didn't react at all to her angry tone. He just didn't care enough to. The intensely haughty and domineering colt considered it below his notice what his rider was feeling, as long as she was in the game for race time. He was cold and mechanical as he placed one hoof in front of the other, sinking slightly into the dirt before he finally reached the turf track. Now he stretched out just a bit more, muscles rippling. Amber was anything but regretful as she explained herself to Henna. It was for the experience Henna. The Motion Sprint brought you guys right up, which was good, but I wanted to keep speed over distance in the back of your mind as well. The Triple Sprinter Crown only involves distances seven furlongs and less, but the Dirt Mile at the end of the season certainly doesn't. Henna retorted He might end up in the Sprint, you know! Amber waved her hand. Whatever the case, he gained something from it, no matter what you think. Notice the extra edge?
It was indeed noticeable as a gorgeous chestnut filly practically floated over the turf track towards them. In The Spotlight commanded attention. Her sleek body and spirited whinnies were impossible to ignore. Valencia rode this filly with the lightest of hands and with the least bit of arrogance. Innie brought her back down to earth. This was the filly that had been the highlight of her generation before fading slightly by the end of her juvenile season. She had remained strong, however, and even developed a liking for distances as low as seven furlongs. She had the makings of a solid miler now, but still appreciated the classic distances. She was prepping today for the Debutante Stakes, the first leg in the Turf Triple Tiara, against National Treasure and Paranormal Hunter. On paper, the other two fillies seemed more impressive than Innie, but Innie was no slouch. She had won the All Along Stakes and Princess Cup, being the only filly to beat Paranormal Hunter this season. National Treasure was riding a two-race win streak with victories in the Black Caviar Stakes and Secretariat Stakes most recently, while Para had taken the Miesque Stakes at the Wire most recently. Innie had come third in the Oaks Stakes.
Overall, these three fillies had been gunning for each other all season. Para and Treasure were both closers, though - this meant that in this three horse field Innie had a major advantage. Valencia smirked as she considered it. Innie was a front runner who only ran as fast she needed to in order to keep the lead. Considering her lead would be uncontested, she could run as slow as she wanted and then take off full of energy by the end of the eight furlong race. Innie had the stamina to run twelve furlongs - therefore, she could maintain a high pace for the entirety of the eight furlongs if she had to, or she could have something extra for the end which neither Para nor Treasure might have. Her energy would stem from her stamina, and her control of the pace was her greatest asset in this race. They would break fast, take that lead, lead uncontested and then sprint away at the end. The mile was a new race distance for Innie, but boy was Valencia looking forward to contesting it. It was right in Innie's alley.
Innie snorted excitedly as she caught sight of Alucard. Alucard, displaying his new level of sharpness, immediately took note of her, and fire entered his eyes. Here was an opponent to crush. Henna took notice of the cold stillness of the colt and glanced at Amber. Maybe you're right she acknowledged, now more excited than she had thought possible. Amber smirked and nodded, then gestured with her hand. Alu peeled away from Amber to join his stablemate in warming up. Innie was trotting energetically, and immediately became more focused as Alu came up alongside. The toss up between the turf fillies had been apparent all season, and it had sharpened Innie's competitive instincts. She knew a rival when she saw one, especially when she lived in the same barn as him. Nearly in sync, the two took off now at the gallop, stride for stride as they approached the turn.
Their riders fully released them and Innie assumed the lead. Alu drifted behind to assume his customary stalking position, gears in his head spinning as he tracked Innie around the turn and down the stretch. He knew that he would have to time his move in order to get the chestnut. Innie, meanwhile, felt the ghost presence of Alu and widened her lead slightly, easily cutting off the speed the moment that she could. Valencia sat chilly on her back, always alert and counting off furlongs. Four passed before Alucard exploded in a sudden movement, the bay colt launching forward with all the speed he could muster. He threw himself around the turn with reckless speed and went charging right up to Innie's tail. The chestnut filly was, however, well accustomed to reacting to the sudden presence of her rivals. She exploded forward, her turn of foot leaving Alucard slightly in her wake as she plowed into the stretch and sought the glory of the wire. Alucard was not be outdone. The cold colt snaked his body forward, legs whirling with the speed as he matched her pace and sought to outmatch it.
The two were barely separated as they thundered under the wire in a blur of speed. Valencia whooped at the victory and slapped Innie's neck happily, while Innie herself rejoiced in the influx of attention she felt that she received as a result of this victory. Alucard merely relaxed as he went under the wire, cataloguing the defeat in his brain and preparing himself mentally to crush his opponents next time out. The two were ready for launch into the next step of their careers.
