melodious dance

MYSTICAL MELODY AND KRYSTAL YHATE
DASHING IN THE FIRELIGHT AND HENNA TURATH

MEL'S WORKOUT FOR THE UNICORN HORN DIRT
FIRE'S WORKOUT FOR THE UNICORN HORN DIRT CLASSIC

The light bay mare was the picture of grace. Though each movement thrummed with power, there was also a touch of confidence, will and experience in it. Fire had returned after an amazingly successful season back, and this was to be her final season on the track. And what better way to stretch her legs than to put her against the finest in the Unicorn Horn Dirt Classic? Moondance, her half sister, Bank On Greatness, Impressario's full brother, and Furious Passion, Triple Crown winner, would all be there to greet her. Henna's face was set with her determination. This was Fire's year. They were going to prove their dominance even more clearly this year by working their tails off and showing the world what they were made of. The light bay mare had guts to show the world, and an unconquerable heart. She had fought through injury to rise to grade two. Her story was a story of success, and it could only get better.

The four year old bay mare that pranced alongside her depicted a different story. Mel had shown promise during her two year old season. As a three year old, she had placed second in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes and third in the Preakness Stakes. She was very accustomed to facing colts and finding a way to succeed. Entered in the Dirt, she was up against Mr Hat and Clogs, Vindictive Fury and upcoming youngster Euphorion. Holding the mare back, Krystal wondered if they'd be able to win based on energy alone. Henna was Mel's main rider, but for this workout it was necessary for Krystal to ride. Amber was going to clock them as they ran through a race of six furlongs. She would let them know whether they were on top of things or not.

At Henna's flash signal, Mel and Fire both dug into the gallop. They were off like shots, muscles light and warmed up. Mel, being a front runner, stuck her nose in front of Fire and left it there. Fire, not liking the lead as much, dropped back a little bit but left some space on the rail for Mel to run in. She wasn't going to take the rail spot herself in case she needed to move quickly and needed to have the time to catch up to Mel. In this fashion of positioning and sudden speed, two furlongs passed by. The mares were going easily, breath whooshing in and out of their nostrils, legs flying over the dirt track. They felt good. Krystal was, of course, having a handful with Mel, as the mare had too much energy for her own good, but Fire glided coolly beneath Henna, and Henna grinned as she waited for the right moment to make their move.

With two thirds of the race gone, Henna and Fire picked it up a bit. They closed the gap and were galloping alongside Mel and Krystal. Krystal refused to let the other mare's presence pressure her mount into going faster. Instead, she continued to hold the mare in, bottling her up for the stretch. Mel was obviously frustrated by this tactic. She wanted to leave Fire behind, preferably in the wake of her dust. Krystal found her arms aching, and wondered once again at Henna's strength. How could she put up with it? But soon they were roaring into the stretch, and there was no time for thoughts. Krystal let the eager Mel go, and the dark bay thoroughbred absolutely flew into a new gear and poured it on. But Fire's gradual buildup of speed was sufficient to prepare for this new challenge.

Through the final furlong, the two mares fiercely battled it out, increasing their speeds desperately in an attempt to outlast the other. Fire wasn't backing down, while Mel just kept on digging for more. They crossed the wire head to head and still locked in fierce competition as their riders slowed them down. Krystal and Henna simultaneously glanced at Amber, who was sitting on the track rail with a stopwatch. The wide grin on her face was all they needed to know that they were on top of things and were going to reach a new level in the Unicorn Horn series.