Post by Cruisey on Jan 16, 2015 14:58:15 GMT -5
INNERSTELLAR && JAMES COLLURA
HELLFIRE && SAMMIE PICKETT
With the Breeder’s Cup weekend finally done, it was time to start fresh. A new year brings new horses to the track, and Carter couldn’t be more excited for this crop of two year olds to hit the track. It was finally time for the newcomers to shine their light on the racing world, and it would start with Innerstellar and Hellfire.
Innerstellar, also known as Tyler, was the son of DT Jupiter x Beltane and was a gift from the Intrepid Racing staff. He was a Christmas gift to Kiana and Ryan, and it was Carter’s job once again to tame the beast. He didn’t have much training on him, so it would be interesting to see what he had in store today.
Hellfire was scheduled to be his breezing partner. She was nothing like her name suggested. Unlike both father and sister –who currently both reside at Firestone – she is a relatively easy horse to handle. Flame’s training had been going surprisingly well, and she managed to prove it in the Breeder’s Cup Yearling Show where she placed second, behind Intrepid’s Natural Selection.
Tyler was not having it today either. Squealing could be heard from the barn, with harsh horseshoes hitting cement constantly. James must have not been at the barn yet because one of the grooms ran out of the barn towards Carter, clutching his arm.
“That horse is the devil reincarnate, Carter. I don’t know what you got yourself into.” Carter sighed, mentally cursing.
“Go to the office and get that cleaned up. Talia should be in there, she can help. And I’ll make sure you’re not assigned to him either.” The groom uttered something in Spanish and nodded.
While the groom ran off to the office, Carter made his way into the barn. Two people were hanging onto Tyler’s face, trying to keep him from running down the aisle. His ears were pinned flat against his head and his teeth were bared; he was out for blood. All that could be done was hope the colt was better on the track. While Tyler was threatening to break free, Flame stood beside her groom and seemed to be zoned out of the colt’s antics. Of course, she didn’t put up nearly as big of a fight as Tyler did with her tack. The most she did was attempt to nip with her angry filly face when the girth was tightened by a stranger. She definitely did not take after her parents.
Finally, both James and Sammie arrived just in time for Tyler to lash out. Sparks flew from where his shoes hit the cement floor as James rushed over to help tame the wild colt. When Tyler saw James, something in his demeanor changed and he stopped resisting long enough for the man to get a hold of his face. While they were trying to tame Tyler, Sammie had walked around to meet her mount. The filly’s eyes glittered with excitement and she bobbed her head in greeting. Flame tossed her mane and was eager to get out and away from the devil himself.
Once outside, the riders mounted their horses and made their way to the track. Tyler had seemed to calm down enough to let Carter lead him on foot, and Talia was mounted on Terror Smile as Flame’s lead pony once again. They would be breezing 4 furlongs with a 2 furlong blowout in prep for their 8 furlong race. Tyler was entered at Green Horse Fields in the Mighty Moose Stakes in hopes to break his maiden on the first try against two others. Hellfire was also being sent to Green Horse in the Dirty Duck Stakes; a huge field of six fillies. She had to be on form if she planned on breaking her maiden on the first try.
Sammie was glad they did the gate training when they did, because Flame was really starting to be a pro. The black filly cantered beside Smiles in warm up, relaxed and content. Tyler was cantering ahead, swishing his tail in annoyance. James made sure to keep the colt listening to him every step he took. There were people waiting at the gates for the horses, ready to load them up and start their workout. James had managed to slow the horse enough for the gate handler to get a grip on his bridle, something Tyler did not like. The bay colt reared up in frustration, shaking his head. With three people holding the horse, they managed to load Tyler in 5 minutes. Flame went into the gates like an old pro, and both jockeys waited for the real test to start.
The bell sounded and the gates were released. Tyler left the gates like a bat out of hell, immediately shooting for the front. Flame broke fast, but quickly settled behind the speedy colt. James fought with the horse to slow it down a little bit – to save his energy for the end. Tyler fought back, but eventually settled into a nice galloping rhythm. Being a sprinter, he wanted to spend all of his energy at the beginning, but that’s not something Carter wanted them to do. Flame was settled well in behind him, strides eating up the ground with ease. She was in her element here; she didn’t mind the dirt being thrown in her face.
Before they knew it, the four breezing furlongs had passed and it was time to let them really go at it. Sammie waited until James had Tyler a few lengths ahead before she asked Flame to make her move. Her stride opened up and she was flying on the outside. James loosened the hold on Tyler and let the horse really go. The bay horse was ready for this moment and he rocketed away, strides pulling him closer to the wire. Out of the corner of James’ eye he saw the black filly making a huge dash on the outside. Sammie had positioned Flame so that she was now running full out beside the colt. Whips were brought out as both jockeys drove the horses to win. They were just a ball of legs and dark colours as they flew by the post. Flame had managed to get the edge over Tyler by a head, but if the race was any longer she was sure to get it by more. Tyler wanted to keep running to prove he could beat the Catching Fire daughter, but for now he would have to settle for second.
