the legacy ahead of me

[S u N f r O s T ~]

VENTURA AND AMBER BLACK
ODE TO GLORY AND KRYSTAL YHATE

VEN'S WORKOUT FOR THE LEGACY TURF STAKES

The constant pulling at the reins was hardly a surprise for Amber Black anymore. She just kept on pulling right back, letting the black filly she rode that she wasn't going to give in. But Ventura had a willpower unrivaled by many a horse, and she just kept trying to break free and run. Amber ignored her and instead looked around the SOPS turf track with pride in her eyes. Many good horses had worked on this track. Hall Of Fame inductees, grade one champions, even lower grade horses that had always shone at some point in their career that they were great. This strong turf legacy was Amber's to nurture, and she was doing just that with today's workout against Ode To Glory. She had discovered last time out that Ven worked better against competition. So much better, in fact, that she would always have some competition to work against now.

Ode To Glory, on the other hand, was different. The dark gray son of All For Glory and On To The Spotlight was mild mannered, calm and obedient. He loved to run but also loved to listen to his rider. This usually made for a colt that lacked a bit in competitive spirit but was overflowing with the need to please. Unfortunately, this made him a bit less of a racehorse, and it had showed in his initial start last week. He had placed sixth and didn't seem overly bothered by it. Krystal had blamed the performance on the colt's current attitude. The perfect horse to cultivate some competitive fire from the colt was Ventura. Nothing could get a colt like Ode riled up more than the powerful and rebellious personality of a horse like Ven. The filly could get inside any horse's head and egg them on with a spirit like hers.

Krystal finished her loving grooming of the gray two year old with a sigh before tacking up, mounting up and riding out to the turf track. She, too, looked at the home track with pride before riding over to meet Amber, who already had her hands full. At the sight of another horse, Ven had become nearly uncontrollable. She was tugging and even bucking a little bit, snaking her head this way and that in an attempt to annoy her rider further. As Ode neared she bared her teeth as though readying herself to take a chunk out of the other horse. Amber turned the filly around in a quarter circle so both her head and her hooves were away from Ode and greeted Krystal warmly. Ode was not reacting to Ven's competitive advances; if anything, the colt stared at the black filly blankly, as if wondering what the big deal was. As Krystal watched Amber contain Ven, she counted herself lucky that she was not the filly's rider. It took a special sort to handle a horse like that.

The plan was to race the two year olds in preparation for their next starts. Ode's was undeclared, while Ven was facing a field of four in the Legacy Turf Stakes for Hall Of Fame offspring only. The field was, of course, royally lined and Amber was a bit nervous about how Ven would do. The Rising, in gate one, was a three year old colt with a lot of experience. He would have the definite advantage there, and Amber wasn't sure if they could defeat the preceder. Experience played a huge role in races, especially against lesser experienced competition. She would just pray he had a bad ride. Italian Ice in gate three was another Impressario filly, and she had gone undefeated in her prospect season. She had been seen working hard on the track, though she had yet to make her first start. Icee was a front runner or a preceder, likely depending on the pace, which could be fast or slow for this race. They would hopefully have the advantage in terms of experience. In gate four was Classic Nutcase, and Amber liked this filly. She was out of a favorite mare of hers, The True Nut, and by their own Passionate Class. She was, of course, insane because of her dam, poor thing. But the Prison Hill specialty, she had heard, was with crazy horses. This filly had also not started yet. She was a mid packer and Amber would be watching out for her.

Ven was the Fury foal that didn't want the lead. She wanted to sit back and watch her competition for a bit before going for it. This meant that there would be no horse who really wanted to take the lead. She imagined Italian Ice would do the honors, and they would be right up behind with The Rising, and Classic Nutcase would bring up the rear but not be too far off of the pace. The positions would likely be the same for a while, and then Amber knew that Ven would make her move, and when she did everybody else would react and break the stasis. It was only a question of when she would make that move, and it varied with every workout. Would it be early or late this time around? Amber didn't know, but she wasn't willing to argue with her filly about it. Ven was too strong willed. She would not change unless she willed it herself.

As for Ode, he mas a mid packer, the horse nobody noticed until the end of the race. Of course that hadn't worked very well in the last race, due to a bad ride, but Krystal was confident of their chances in further races. A bad start didn't mean a bad career, and working with a horse like Ven would help. Ven was massively talented and unearthly speedy, while Ode seemed like it could take a while for his true colors to show. But Krystal didn't mind that. They would be champions in their own time. She grinned as they began to canter and Ven tried yet again to rile Ode up, and the colt did not even bat an eyelash. He simply kept cantering along, and Ven eventually relaxed as the turf track rolled by. They were warming up for a ten furlong race, the distance of the Legacy Maiden Turf. Amber was looking for concentration and spirit from her filly, as well as some speed, but nothing too fast. The actual race was mere days away.

Finally prepared, the two women began to gallop alongside each other. Ven was the first to break into race pace, but she kept alongside Ode and matched his pace for some reason. Amber guessed that it was so that she could keep a very close eye on her competition, even though Ode wanted nothing to do with being at the front of the race. Krystal urged the gray colt to maintain his pace when he attempted to be subservient and give the lead to Ven by dropping speed. Krystal didn't want that. She needed Ode to develop some confidence and begin standing up for himself. As Ven and his rider goaded him on, Ode became confused. He wanted to please his rider, though, and her confidence made him feel confident. So the pace was maintained, and Krystal felt proud of the new strength of their connection. He was willing to trust her enough to do this, and that was great!

As for Ven, Amber was motionless aboard the filly's back. She gave the black thoroughbred no commands as they flashed past the half mile pole. With six furlongs left to go, the pace had not changed and Ven was moving easily. She had an eye on her competition and was playing the race exactly as she wanted to. Ode was her instrument, and the pace he ran was of her design, his positioning of her design. She was in control and she was loving it. With a half mile left to go now, Ode actually picked up the pace a bit without the urging of Krystal. The colt loved to run and was enjoying himself. He didn't seem to be aware of the black cloud of fury at his side that was Ventura. Ven hated to be ignored when competing. She wanted to show Ode who was boss and now.

With three furlongs remaining, the black filly suddenly flashed to the front and became a ball of speed. She churned forward, absolutely humiliating Ode with her speed. The gray colt did not react fast enough to catch the black devil of a filly. She was off, and he was at the disadvantage. Krystal half frantically urged the colt forward and he threw himself into his gallop in an effort to please his rider. His eyes eagerly looked for the stretch as they rounded the far turn and approached the wire. Straight ground opened up before his hooves and he dug in eagerly, wanting to do his best both for himself and Krystal. As for Ven, the filly was still pounding furiously down the track some four lengths ahead, but her lead was no longer increasing. If anything, Ode was finally gathering himself and beginning to gun her down, but there was no time to truly catch up. Krystal was proud enough of the two lengths separating them from victory as they flashed under the wire.

As for Amber and Ven, both rider and horse were exhilarated. Amber felt pumped and ready and Ven was quietly satisfied, not even arguing as she was cooled down and then steered to the barn. They had done great and now only time would tell what their final performance would be like. They had done all that they could, and now Ven would have to live up to her parents' high standards and do well in the race.