Back in Black

[creativecause]

Back in Black

Call Me Crooked and Alex Shade

"Back in the back of a Cadillac
Number one with a bullet I'm a power pack
Yes I am
In a bang with the gang
They gotta catch me if they want me to hang
Cause I'm back on the track and I'm beatin' the flack
Nobody's gonna get me on another rap
So look at me now I'm just makin' my play
Don't try to push your luck just get out of my way
Cause I'm back"
-ACDC Back in Black

It was a cool, crisp mourning in September, one of those that reminds you that summer is definitely over. The season was changing, as it always did. However, one thing at the track never seemed to change-- the early morning buzz. Today's was mostly focused on the bay daughter of Crooked Fire. That's right, Call Me Crooked was back and better then ever.
Alex lead his firecracker of a mount out onto Green Horse Fields turf track for her final work for the Hawk Cup*. Crook would be up against tough competition as always, the Hawk Cup included Athena's Desires and former stablemate, Phantasm Frost. The race wouldn't be a payed workout by any means for Crook, but she could handle these horses with the right ride. Athena's Desires was a flighty front runner, Phantasm Frost was a stalker just as Crook was. So Crook and Alex would have a pretty good guide to tell how close they needed to be. Crook moved on her own so Alex trusted that the filly could get them both there with their nose on the wire first. Not to mention it was over crooks preferred distance of six furlongs over the turf.
Crook bounced around and squealed on their way up to the gates, her focus slipping off to watch other horses run as they came closer to it.
Alex had stopped Crook to wait for their turn to go, and Crook turned herself to watch the other horses break and to get a glimpse of the spectators in the grandstand today. The photographers snatched pictures of Crook looking their way, her white blaze was unmistakable. She turned her head ever so slightly and Alex couldn't help but note the fire and playfulness in them. She'd filled out a bit with age, and was starting to look more like a three year old than a two year old. Her muscles had become more prominent, her face a little less baby like and a little more thoroughbredish like. She was undeniable beautiful with the sun just peeking through the clouds to allow enough light to shine slightly on her stunning features. Crook was growing up, that was for sure, and with those changes she seemed to get even better.
Crook was loaded into the gate without an issue and she sprung from it as gracefully as a gazelle. Soon she and Alex had fallen into a nice, quick rhythm that Crook seemed to quite enjoy. Alex didn't push Crook, she was already going plenty fast but was enjoying every second of having the wind whip through her hair and press against her coat, whisps sprung from both their noses in the cool morning air. Crook's strides were stronger than ever, her form seemed to be improving even further, and with all these changes Crooks loveable personality remained. They came into the final turn for home and Alex could feel Crook getting ready to fire. Her short layoff from the track seemed to have zero effect on her, she was as calm and focused as ever and she was ready to tackle anything Athena's Desires and Phantasm Frost threw at her. The homestretch opened up before them and Crook accelerated in just seconds nearly losing Alex because of the force of her full closing kick. Crooks large stride ate up the turf, she looked like an absolute monster tearing her way down the stretch. She looked to be gliding over the turf, everything looking effortless, and from where Alex was sitting It appeared that it was pretty effortless for Crook.
They flew past the wire together and started Crooks run out. This filly was incredible, and Alex was sure as ever that she wasn't going to let any horse deny her a victory in the Hawk Cup* because Crook was willing to fight them every step of the way to get her nose down on the wire first.