four way battle

[S u N f r O s t ~]

WISH UPON A STAR AND KRYSTAL YHATE
LIMITED EDITION AND VALENCIA ANDREWS
ALUCARD AND HENNA TURATH
AQUATIC ADDICTION AND KYLIE SILVERSTAR

ED'S WORKOUT FOR THE PREAKNESS STAKES
ALU'S WORKOUT FOR THE QUICK CUP
THEO'S WORKOUT FOR THE SUMMER CUP

Wish Upon A Star felt light as a feather as she trotted onto the dirt track. Her eyes were bright and form superb as she surveyed the track once, whinnied and set off confidently. Attention focused on the bay mare as she gracefully trotted, and Wish soaked up every glorious moment with all of the eyes on her. Head lifted high in pride, the newly crowned grade one put on a demonstration as she made for the first turn. Krystal took her back just in time, affection in her eyes. We have to wait for the others girl she whispered almost confidentially. Wish flicked an ear to indicate that she was listening before collecting her trot, making it even more floaty and graceful looking. Krystal grinned and settled into the rhythm, happy to be aboard this four year old full of glorious potential.

Next to arrive was Aquatic Addiction. Another four year old, this one in particular was nearing retirement age. He had cracked grade one this season and was having a decent season so far. Kylie Silverstar piloted Theo for this workout, gaining more experience which would only help her down the road. Theo was not a hard horse to jockey. He was easy going and obedient, seasoned with experience and full of surprises. Kylie couldn't keep the grin off of her face. Theo was a diamond in the rough and perhaps would always remain that way. He had attained grade one, though, and what other honor could they ask him to attain? Kylie hoped there was another win on the horizon for this bay. Theo had talent that flashed sometimes, like in his dead heat win in the Speedway with Mastermind last season. He could pull surprises out of thin air. Kylie hoped he would.

Now a cold and domineering presence descended on the track. Alucard had arrived. The haughty but beautiful colt was all muscle and ice. The minute his hooves touched the track his eyes lit with a cold fire and he became immediately aggressive. He was unaffected by the presence of the others, mechanically trotting down the track with a look as though bored on his face. Henna felt the lightning quickness he harbored in his movements and was all alight with smiles. Alu's lone win this season had come in the Motion Sprint and now he would contend in the Quick Cup. He was truly campaigning well for the Triple Sprinter Crown and Henna looked forward to riding this contender in the races. It would definitely be lots of fun to run that and the Red Mile series as well. Alu had been on a month and a quarter break of hard gallops and conditioning. He was now toned and ready to go more so than even before. Henna looked forward to the challenges awaiting them.

Last but not least, Limited Edition stepped onto the track. Valencia's gaze threatened to incinerate the competition before Ed even got a crack at them. They were sizzling after a close third place finish in the Kentucky Derby. Unfortunately, Derby winner Mourning Passion did not get the distance of the other two legs and In Front was not going to the Preakness, so they would not get a crack at them. That meant the Preakness could be in Ed's favor. Valencia certainly hoped to make it that way. Her face was set with determination and the boisterous stride of Ed settled into masculine dominance and veiled threats. Ed wanted the Preakness just as badly as Valencia did. Third place was just not in the cards - no, no, they wanted first. SOPS had a title to defend in the Preakness this season and there was no fitter horse than Ed to fill the bill.

Ed maintained his dominance stance as they approached the other three. Alucard reacted, his posture stiffening as he leveled a challenge at the other colt. Theo merely snorted and Wish curiously watched as the two faced off. Amber watched her riders from the rail and smirked as they turned and began their workout together. Ed dropped immediately back to last, Theo shadowing him. Alucard similarly refused the lead, leaving Wish with it. The bay mare snorted but took it, barely, as she galloped around the first turn. She didn't mind it, but it was not her preferred position. The stalking continued, Alu occasionally drifting up as Ed and Theo breathed down his back before dropping back again.

The pattern continued into the stretch, when suddenly all the horses ran the turn wide and came cavalry charging down the stretch. It was a four way battle to the lead and no horse wanted to lose. Determination and heart played with the speed of legs and the desire of the horses and riders as they rolled towards the wire, flashing under it in a straight line of SOPS power. Amber Black was laughing as she watched the horses go, pride in her gaze and dreams aflame in her heart. Ed was tuned up for the Preakness. Wish was ready to enter a big race and place in it. Alu was lightning for the Quick Cup. Theo was ready to surprise in the Summer Cup. Their next starts would no doubt be inspiring.