infernal kingdom

[S u N f r O s T ~]

SWEET INFERNO AND HENNA TURATH
FIRE DANCER AND KRYSTAL YHATE
LYNARA'S KINGDOM AND AMBER BLACK

SWEETIE'S WORKOUT FOR THE LEGACY DIRT STAKES

A fourth place finish wasn't what Krystal had in mind in the Risorgimento Derby, but she would take it. Fire was still near and dear to her heart even if her peers had long since passed the four year old by. They would be shown the error of their ways by the end of the year. Fire Dancer had reached a new level of maturity and speed this year that Krystal hadn't felt last year. The mare was getting better with age. Krystal was hoping they would pull off a Vindictive Fury and suddenly start winning like crazy, but knew that such things were rare and didn't get her hopes up. But she couldn't help feeling as though they were quite capable of such a feat and eager to prove it as well. More hard work and dedication, and she hoped it would pay off. For today's workout, though, they were focusing on furthering the abilities of the next two generations.

Lynara's Kingdom was the crazy but talented gray filly only Amber Black was insane enough to ride. The daughter of Sophie Might had inherited her dam's idiosyncratic need to be obeyed. She didn't take no for an answer and certainly would have no problems with using force and other tricks to get what she wanted. It had taken Amber all of last season to learn how best to ride the filly. Then they had won two races in December before going to the Breeders Cup on a win streak. Though they had placed third in the Juvenile Dirt Sprint, Amber felt that it was only because Lynara was still developing. At three years old, the filly had filled out a bit more completely and was standing taller. She was not yet full grown but was approaching that point rapidly. Most interestingly, she was a sprinter, and Fire was a distance runner. So why were two different specialists called together to work today with a mysterious third horse?

The answer presented itself in the form of a slim black filly with eyes that spat fire as she stepped onto the dirt track. She swept her gaze around her before refocusing ahead and quickening her hoofsteps. The track was home to her, and she loved it, but especially at night. The granddaughter of Night Stalker, daughter of Hall Of Fame inductee Sweet Stalker, was finally ready to make her initial debut. With an overpowering personality, it had taken a while to prepare her as well as they would. Luckily, there hadn't been any races suited to the distance runner's preferences either, and they had had two and a half extra weeks to get her ready. Now, the Legacy Dirt Stakes was on the horizon, and at ten furlongs it would be a bread and butter distance for Sweetie to run. The filly was a front runner, a rarity among those that ran her distance range, and of course she wasn't a suicidal one. Distance was key, and too fast of a pace would ruin the race.

They were facing two others as of right now. A Royal Legacy from Akita Rose Stables, son of their Merry Bay King and Akita Rose's best broodmare Queen Of Hearts, would be facing them. He was blue blooded and Henna loved the colt as any member of the SOPS staff crew would due to his sire. He was a strong closer and already had an extra start on them, a fourth place finish on The Wire. This would give him an edge in the race. Wish Upon A Star was the other entry, and she was a preceder or a mid packer. She, like them, hadn't started yet, though she had been seen out on the track working. Henna was hoping for the best against her. It looked like they would have an unchallenged lead for this race. That was what this current workout would simulate. Sweet Inferno would take the lead, with Lynara following and Fire bringing up the rear. Sweetie would attempt to win against these two older horses, though she was likely to fail against their vast experience and maturity. None the less, she would gain from the experience, and Henna was looking forward to the challenge.

Lynara snorted excitedly as she viewed her competition. She seemed to recognize Fire but didn't recognize Sweetie, which was to be expected. But all that mattered to the gray mare was the fact that they were about to run, and she wanted to go. Amber growled as the three year old tried to bolt, and Lynara would have growled if she could as she found her bolt attempt restrained by Amber's strong hands. It was impossible for the three year old to go anywhere, and she hated that Amber had such complete control. Meanwhile, Fire and Krystal were moving along a lot more smoothly. They had commenced their warm up and were the picture of horse and rider working in harmony. They had been through a rough year last year and their troubles would not be at an end for another two seasons. They were only halfway through!

Sweetie had an amazing presence due to the amount of energy and power contained in her form. She stepped forward flashily, as though flaunting this power, and her eyes continued to burn as she was set after the older horses at a canter. She wanted to defeat them, and her desire permeated the air. Sweetie had an aura of overpowering emotion that surrounded her all the time. What was really amazing about the two year old was how she attracted eyes due to the presence she exuded. It was hard to ignore the filly, and none had managed to do so. She was just impossible to ignore, with her aura and everything, and Henna hoped that this aura meant that Sweetie would be a great racehorse. Few carried her aura and few had as much power as this great horse beneath her.

Their warm up was fast. Now the horses were lined up and getting ready to go. They would be using the gates and running a mile long race, simulating the actual conditions of the race except for the fact that the race was two furlongs longer. This would be Sweetie's first workout against older horses, and it was rare that SOPS worked three horses together. The experience would be exhilarating and Henna was eager to see what Sweetie gained from it. Fire Dancer was the first to load. The seasoned bay mare walked into the gates imperiously, as though questioning the sanity of those around her to think she would do otherwise. Krystal grinned with pride aboard Fire and massaged a quick circle into her neck. Next to load was Sweet Inferno. Despite being a two year old, she had taken well enough to the gates and had passed her gate test with an average performance. Now she sniffed the metal contraption once before following Henna's commands and going in. Her aura was powerful as usual, like a protective shield, and she seemed to exude a presence that said she was above it all, even if on the inside she was a bit uncertain. Last to load was Amber Black and Lynara. Amber set the timer on the gate before quickly walking Lynara in. The moody three year old could react in many bad ways to being loaded in, and she wanted it to get done. The first snort of anger had just escaped Lynara's lips when the gate opened and the race was on!

Lynara broke the fastest and appeared intent on taking the lead.
Sweetie, who had broken a bit slow, was hard pressed to catch up. Eventually the black filly did, and she galloped alongside Lynara and stuck her nose in front to claim her first place position. Amber frowned as she attempted to slow Lynara and play the part of preceder. Lynara felt like leading today and she wasn't letting up her speed. Perhaps if she gave the race two furlongs, Lynara would slow a bit, but right now the three year old was a front runner and she was challenging Sweetie fiercely for her lead. The two year old had a good head on her shoulders. She fought back, but when Lynara's speed reached epic proportions she slowed and followed the direction of her rider, taking a spot perhaps one half length off of the sprinting filly. This was not Amber's plan at all, and she hated having her plans changed, but she would fly with this. Fire Dancer and Krystal Yhate were four lengths off of the dueling fillies and coasting along smoothly. The experienced mare's eyes tracked the pace up front and she was ready to go as soon as Krystal asked her to turn it on.

The first quarter was run in a blistering twenty two flat, and Lynara was finally showing signs of easing up. She had gotten her sprint in, and now apparently was willing to listen to Amber a bit. Amber thanked her luck and slowed the gray down. Sweetie took the lead with an almost confused air as Lynara ran backwards and took up the stalking position she should have been in since the beginning of the race. Meanwhile, Fire was still moving along smoothly and calmly. She had not lost her head and was full of energy. A mile was actually shorter than her usual race, but Krystal knew how to run Fire so they made the most of the distance deficit. Meanwhile, with Sweetie leading, the half was run in forty seven and one fifth, a very generous pace. The black filly was obviously making the most of not having a pace maker up front and was conserving her speed under Henna's hand. Henna loved the filly's powers of perception and speed. With this, Sweetie had a level head and knew when to cool it.

Nearing the end of the race now, Henna was asking Sweetie to pick it up a little. The two year old responded slowly, but when she did finally respond it was with an explosion of speed that those watching would cry with excitement to see. Lynara, in the meantime, was being very moody. She didn't want to move yet despite the fact that only two furlongs remained in the race, and she was fighting with Amber about it. While this fight was going on, Fire Dancer ghosted by and made her bid for the lead. Sweetie seemed to sense the oncoming mare's presence and immediately lost her head. She began to sprint with reckless abandon. Krystal smirked and just let Fire chase the two year old filly down. They did so with ease, ghosting past. Fire's stride was more developed, she was more experienced and her speed was greater. She could defeat this two year old. Now in the lead, Fire's excitement was palpable. She loved to have open ground in front of her hooves and was making sure it stayed that way. Sweetie was fighting a losing battle, but her eyes glared with her determination to get back up there and win.

Finally, with a half furlong left to go, Lynara decided to make her move. With a surprising turn of foot, she went after the lead and actually managed to sweep past a surprised Sweetie and Henna to steal second. The filly was a sprinter and it showed that day. Slowing after the race, the three women exchanged grins. Fire was dancing after her win. Lynara was moody as per usual. Sweetie was sweaty but looked energetic and ready to go for her initial start. Henna was really excited to see how the powerful filly did. It would be a good race!