krystal's phantoms

ETERNAL PHANTOM AND KRYSTAL YHATE
ONE OF MANY PRE-BREEDERS CUP PREPS

They thought that since she was a filly she wouldn't stand a chance at winning in the Juvenile. They thought that her record, though impressive, was not enough to defeat Paradise Island in being crowned Best Two Year Old Filly. Krystal had analyzed all of this and realized that the only way they would get the award she coveted was by winning the Juvenile and hoping Paradise Island lost the Juvenile Fillies. They were taking the harder, more risky road after all. Why shouldn't they get the award, especially if they won? Krystal continued to tell herself this as she mounted aboard the black two year old and trotted her out onto the SOPS dirt track. It was peaceful here, relatively free of reporters, and it was exactly what Krystal needed so that she could focus.

The breeze blew gently, and Phantie jerked her head up as it did. Her nostrils flared as she took in the breeze, eyes looking with something akin to curiosity. It was as though she was wondering where this breeze had come from, and if so if she could find it and race it along its set path. Such an immature thought for such an immature filly. Krystal lightly pulled back on the reins, refocusing the filly's attention. Phantie snorted haughtily and began to canter. Krystal guided her to the track rail and off they went, warming up at this delightful canter. Krystal's face was peaceful as they went along, though every part of her was alert. Phantie was smart. There was no telling precisely what she was going to do. She could choose to bolt right now, or stop really suddenly and accidentally end up with Krystal catapulting over her head.

As she rode, Krystal kept her eye out for that pesky reporter. She needed to be doing her best riding so that SOPS could keep up their good name. Phantie was steadily becoming more and more focused as time passed. She was a racehorse through and through, and as the pace grew faster her awareness grew as well. She wanted to run, and began to poke her head forward more and more, as though testing Krystal's grip on the reins, waiting for the moment to yank her head forward and bolt for it. She had done that once, and Krystal didn't want that to happen ever again. It had been a terrifying experience, and Phantie was a valuable horse. The only reason she had not yet bolted was because Krystal was on her guard. It could also be because she was by herself. Phantie was extremely irritable when she worked with other horses, but by herself she was a bit more manageable.

All of the sudden, there was a shrill alarm call from a bird perched on a tree near the track. Krystal was startled slightly by it, and Phantie used this opportunity to bolt. She was galloping and accelerating rapidly before Krystal had time to react, and she was nearly unseated. Instinctively, Krystal had moved into a crouch over the horse's withers and was gathering up all of the suddenly loose rein as fast as she could. Phantie jerked her head forward often, though, and this made the reins slip out from between Krystal's seeking hands. The woman was becoming incredibly frustrated. She couldn't gather up the slack rein fast enough! Phantie was enjoying herself, and Krystal most certainly wasn't.

Two furlongs passed, three, and Krystal was still struggling to gather the reins. Her thoughts had turned panicky - what if Amber saw this fiasco? What if Jill Jennings saw and said that Krystal was a terrible rider? Amber was already relying on her to beat Alluring Assault with Sillenia so that Nick would be forced to pay for dinner. Why the hell was all this stress put on her? Tears were nearly leaking out of Krystal's eyes. It was a moment of such incredible weakness that Phantie took complete advantage. She increased her pace, lengthening her stride, and her eyes glowed with a fierce fire. This was complete freedom. This was what it was like to have a rider who wasn't in control, and Phantie's wild spirit was relishing it even as her rider's spirit cried for a release of the stress.

Have we not bonded at all, Phantie? Is this all we have?!

Krystal's words were thrown into the breeze as a harsh cry. She was openly crying now, and her tears were also carried by the breeze. They had tore through six furlongs now and Krystal had nearly given up. Phantie didn't like her. They had barely bonded. Krystal had thought they had a connection, but they clearly did not. Phantie was taking complete advantage of her weakness and running away with her. Why? Why? Why?

Almost by miracle, it only took another furlong before Phantie slowed. It was with the air of a horse who had had enough and was imperiously declaring that she was done running. Had Krystal been in her right mind she would have seen this as an act of unspeakable likeness on Phantie's part. To stop doing what she loved - galloping - simply because her rider was so unusually upset and stressed? It was nothing short of a miracle. But for now, all Phantie did was slow to a complete stop and calmly wait for further instructions.

Krystal took a while to get her bearings, but when she did she hesitantly picked up the extra reins and began to steer Phantie back towards the stable.