Post by S u N f r O s t ~ on May 8, 2015 19:11:27 GMT -5
PANDORA AND KYLIE SILVERSTAR - BELMONT TURF CLASSIC
TRINITY AND CHRISTOPHER BLACK - DUCHESS STAKES
There was a chair that remained stationed outside the filly's stall. At night it got folded up late; in the morning, somebody always came and sat in it to stare at the behemoth of a filly inside the stall. It seemed as though every SOPS employee had stopped by to hold vigil outside this stall. But today was different. Today, every SOPS employee but one knew to stay away. They had had their time with the potential embodiment of their dream. Only the jockey of the sensational filly got time with her the week before the race. And indeed it was a week. Kylie Silverstar got there at dawn. She looked into the stall, was greeted by a happy whicker. Pandora was always happiest to see Kylie, always worked her hardest when this young woman was on her back. And now the largest hope, the biggest dream of Stride Of Perfection rode with woman and horse into the Belmont Turf Classic. Could Pandora seal the deal? Could she become a Turf Triple Crown winner? Was it possible? Kylie sighed, grabbed the chair and went right into the stall. She set it down right in the hay and sat. Pandora came over, eyes bright and curious, tail flicking. Kylie reached for the filly and she placed her head right in the palm of Kylie's hand. Kylie drank it all in and wondered, dreamed.
Pandora had always been special. She had come from two treasured parents. Her juvenile season had been riveting, but it was seemingly just a prelude for this season. Pandora had only been defeated twice. She had won six Horse Of The Year races and become the first of her generation to hit grade one. She had won the Kentucky Open on talent and class; the Preakness Champion Stakes, on heart. A horse needed both to seal the deal in the Belmont Turf Classic. And Pandora had truly showed her heart to get the job done in the Preakness Champion. The horses she faced were not easy foes. Pandora had put them done. She kept on putting them done. After a week to recuperate following her big effort in the second leg, Pandora had gotten right back into it. She glowed with class and with strength and stamina. She was a finely muscled athlete, beautiful. Kylie knew of no worthier horse to bring SOPS the Turf Triple Crown.
In another section of the barn, Christopher Black's hands shook as he began to tack up his filly. Trinity, sweet as always, nickered gently, giving Amber's young cousin an inquiring look as he strapped on his helmet. Christopher sighed. I just wish I could do better by you, Trin. We've won some and made some pretty darn strong showings in the big races. I just want us to win one. He paused. We should find the ten furlongs in the Duchess exactly to our liking though, Trin. And we're facing Impress The Moonlight and Lissome. Longest shot in the field. Funny, we had a hand in breeding the other two, yet we didn't breed you. You're apart of the SOPS family regardless though. He continued talking to the filly as he set out for the turf track. It was show time.
Amber Black nodded to her two riders, an irresistible grin curling up her face as she hailed the present generation of SOPS turf stars. Her fillies looked beautiful, and she wouldn't have anybody tell her otherwise. Kylie and Christopher both gave her shy smiles before heading out to the turf. Amber saluted them, grinning widely now. Krystal Yhate joined her at the rail, and then Henna Turath, and then Kylie Silverstar, and then gradually the rest of the SOPS crew aligned themselves along the railing. Nobody wanted to miss this workout. Amber's eyes narrowed her horses set off, searching for injury. She got nothing but greatness from her two as they headed out. Her gaze focused on Pandora. Her dam Wildly Natural had gotten to the same point Pandora had, but failed in the Belmont Turf Classic; her sire Impressario had gotten to this point over the dirt, and succeeded. Amber knew that Pan had her doubters. She had not raced at a mile and a half all season, for instance. But that was almost negligible. Pan's ancestors had excelled at the distance. The first win of Pan's career had been in a twelve furlong race. What more did they need? Trinity moved with a power she had not possessed before, easily keeping up with the Turf Triple Crown hopeful as the duo swung into a lope. There was a filly developing at the right time, reflected the head trainer.
Pandora grabbed the inside and settled, in no rush. Trinity settled alongside. They powered into a full on gallop as they hit the stretch. Now Trinity actually edged ahead slightly, Christopher blinking in shock as she did so. Trinity was never this game. She was clearly going into the Duchess Stakes ready for a career best. As for Pan...Pan merely blinked and settled, cold as glass, analyzing her options. At her most dangerous. Kylie grinned an evil grin and waited for the stretch. They were not pushing hard this workout, but that didn't mean they couldn't flash some speed. Gotta give the clockers something. Amber gulped as she watched the fillies do all she wanted without urging and easily. They snapped off a shade under forty eight for the half without even trying. She felt her heart rise, her hopes coming to light. Would this be it? Would Pan accomplish what they had always wanted, with the world set on denying them their dream?
The duo rolled into the stretch, and now something happened that was seemingly too breathtaking for words. Pandora rallied off the turn, ghosting away from Trinity with a sudden spurt of speed that you would never have caught if you didn't see the chestnut workmate dropping off behind her. Pandora just did it so easily, so within her own power. Trinity faded behind her as Pandora swept into the lead she desired, five lengths ahead in the blink of an eye. Yet Trinity was no horse to lay down and die. She rallied quickly, focusing into the blinding speed with all of her courageous heart. She ate into it by a length until Pandora accelerated again, flashing dangerous speed just before the wire. Kylie blinked the tears out of her eyes as they crossed the wire. Christopher's grin was bright as the sun and proud as a father watching his child succeed. Amber brought a hand in front of her eyes, stared at it, blinking back the sudden moisture. It didn't help that both of Pan's parents shared her skin color and had been great. Pandora brought back memories.
She leaned over to talk to the only person she could at the moment without losing dignity - Krystal Yhate. The assistant trainer nodded at Amber's hushed, breaking words. If it's not time, then I don't know when it will be. Let's do this.
