return the turf crown

[S u N f r O s T ~]

WISH UPON A STAR AND KRYSTAL YHATE
ALTERCATION AND AMBER BLACK
CYCLONARIA AND VALENCIA ANDREWS
MELUSINE AND WANDA BROWN
MELODIOUS AND HENNA TURATH

Let's get down to business...to defeat...enemy turfers sang Valencia Andrews. There was no mistaking the evil in her face as she sang, knowing just how ticked off Amber Black would get as a result. But that didn't matter. Cyclonaria had already picked Amber's Altercation as her target for today. There was no getting rid of her as a result. Cy stuck to Al's side like glue, glaring at the colt with angry hoofstamps, bared teeth, semi-flattened ears and irritable twitches of the tail. Cy was taking nobody's crap today, as per usual. The urge to war rose in Valencia's blood and she struggled to quell it. They needed to work off this aggression today...Al, on the other hand, appeared proud and strong. Tough races did not deter his spirit, only nurtured it.

They were in the first turf set today and it did not take long for them to be off and running. Al bravely assumed the lead as Cy shadowed him, pushing him right along. Life was not easy as they zipped through the first quarter in twenty four flat. Cy did not make things easy when she ran for the horse she had chosen to crush and defeat. But Al had something that only horses who had been defeated one too many times had - indomitable spirit. He was not going down without a fight. Amber noted it. The fierce, proud smile on her face was unmistakable. His sire Worldbreaker had been the same way. But was for Cyclonaria...her speed and deadly will were huge characteristics of her family. Her half-sister The Devil's Hourglass displayed this same intent when she raced. The duo finished off the half they were working in a shade under forty eight - the pace had quickened and then leveled. Distance would tell the winner from this pair.

The Two Ms were up next. Amber handed off Altercation to Meredith Mahon, who had showed up specifically to bother Valencia on the way back to the barn. Amber watched them go, eyebrows raised, concerned. The dynamic between those two...something had happened in January, something Amber had not thought was possible if her suspicions were correct, but Valencia had steadfastly refused to soften to anybody and talk about it. Yet Meredith...she kept trying. It was unbelievable. Amber shook her head, turned to face the next juvenile duo on the track. Melusine was big boned like Sillenia, just as tough and strong as her dam. She marched out onto the track, not taking no for an answer, a general surveying the battlefield. Almost expressionless, she took up a position at the rail and waited for the battle to begin.

Melodious did not lack that expression. Wild energy poured off the young turf sprinter in waves. Sina had had all of March off and it showed in new development and condition. But Mel, she had been working out against the toughest and shining like a star. Flighty on the track, Mel was hard to get to the line, but Henna had dealt with Pegasus Wings. The energy of this filly certainly did not deter her. She got her straightened off, sent her into the workout and got a burst of powerful speed to start off. Mel was all on the lead, intent on burning her competition away. Thin, quick Mel often encountered little difficulty carrying her speed. She was built like a sports car. But Sina...Sina measured the filly, imposing bulk alongside, and moderated. She would not press, merely seek to obliterate when given the opportunity.

The opportunity would not come today - this was merely a workout to stretch their legs. Amber thought both her fillies looked darn good as they stepped off the track. She gave the nod now to Krystal Yhate to bring her mare onto the track. Krystal stepped out on board Wish Upon A Star. There she was...the stable's senior turfer, their best hope for the turf marathon, one of their hopes for redeeming turf classic titles. She had won last week and was finally beginning to be rated among top turfers. She was certainly not to be underestimated.

Wish gave her best every time she went out on the track. There was no exception today. She went out there, wheeled through six furlongs to start and then blew off the final quarter of her mile in twenty three and four fifths, almost with ease. She moved easily, like a predator, full of run and talent. Krystal could feel Moondance in this mare - the spirit, the willingness, the speed and class to surprise on the world's biggest stage. Now to just make the rest of the world see it. She saluted Amber on her way out, a grin on her face. Time for this season's hopefuls to take back the SOPS turf crown.