innocent jayde

[S u N f r O s T ~]

ACTUALLY STARTED WRITING NOVEMBER 3, 2012
INNOCENT PASSION AND KRYSTAL YHATE
SUGAR JAYDE AND HENNA TURATH

The beautiful bay filly who had been a juvenile sensation over the turf sprints was slumping a bit so far this year. After turning in glittering victories in the Magic Millions Fillies Turf, Azalea Cup Fillies and Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, Jayde had proceeded to place second a lot, win three and even place out of the top three twice. Henna's little filly of sweetness was definitely struggling just a bit and needed a good pick me up. She would be running in the Proven Strong Stakes in a week and then the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf the week after on the Wire's turf track. Henna was slowly planning the filly's gradual rise back to stardom. As things stood, the filly would be going to the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint or the Mile at the end of the year, but only if she really started to pick it up a bit. As it was, and with the great amount of horses running for Stride Of Perfection right now, Jayde could get butted out of the Breeders Cup and Henna didn't want that. She was a returning winner. She deserved her spot.

A workout had been scheduled against the stable's top juvenile turf sprinter, Innocent Passion. By Passionate Class and out of Little Miss Innocent, the bay filly had inherited a passionately competitive as well as joking spirit from her parents. Anna was insatiably competitive and unerringly determined. She had won six of her eleven races this year, the last win coming off of a one month layoff. Right now she was resting again for a month in preparation for the Sorrento Stakes on the Wire turf in two weeks and then one of the biggest juvenile races of the year in the Azalea Cup Fillies in exactly a month. The filly had the capability to win in both starts if Krystal prepped her correctly. A good workout with last year's winner was a good idea.

Anna, as per usual, picked it up as soon as Sugar Jayde came into view. The juvenile sidestepped, displaying the high strung attitude of a juvenile thoroughbred as she flared her nostrils and snorted her challenges Jayde's way. Sweetheart as Jayde was, the bay was also a racehorse, and she was only too happy to respond with an indignant snort and the initiation of a deep staring contest. Krystal turned Anna away, hiding a smirk, as she led the way onto the SOPS home turf. It was immaculate and springy, as per usual, in mint condition despite the years of use. The two fillies welcomed the feel of the surface underneath their hooves. Anna snorted once and took off immediately as Krystal gave her cue. Jayde was a bit more slow on the uptake, waiting a couple seconds before responding to Henna's command.

Side by side the two fillies were guided up the track at their sprightly trots. Both were short strided sprinters bursting with power like an orange with juice. They were totally ready for today's workout, in which speed was the main focus. Amber was already waiting for them on the rail, Valencia right alongside to observe her fellow jockeys at their work. Amber's gaze was alert and calculating as she followed the movements of her two fillies. Anna was a horse she had personally bred. Jayde was the product of a cross that was supposed to be Akita Rose's, but had come to live with them when Akita Rose had first left the racing scene. She had been warmly welcomed and was now lovingly cared for by Henna, who was never letting her go, if all went well. It wasn't only the bloodlines which led to Amber's liking of the two fillies. They were both brimming with talent, even if Jayde was a bit more hesitant in showing it. A youthful competitor would do the trick.

Anna was precisely the right horse. As Anna challenged Jayde, the competitive fire took place of the sweetness usually in Jayde's gaze and she became hot headed under Henna's hands. Henna smirked and settled deeply into her heels, keeping the now eager filly under control. They were doing a three furlong blowout today, something both sprinter fillies would enjoy immensely. They were going to go all out and challenge each other for the lead with everything they had. Anna and Jayde raced up near the pace anyway, and that fact was definitely going to affect their initial paces. Amber was expecting twenty one seconds or less for the first quarter and she held a stopwatch in hand to make sure of it. The two fillies were cantering along now, and both of their riders had their hands full. They had lapped the track once and were going down the backstretch now, approaching the three furlong marker at which they would release their mounts.

The marker was reached and in a sudden unfurling of speed the two fillies were off. Jayde took the lead the quickest, her legs a blur of sprinting motion as she remembered herself and her fleet of hoof abilities. Anna was nearly left behind. Krystal let the filly recollect herself before sending her after the crusading Jayde, who had the lead in her teeth and wasn't letting it go. Anna slowly managed to come up alongside but as unfortunately on the outside as the two thoroughbreds curved into the stretch and the final one and a half furlongs. It was a quick speed, no doubt about it, and the two were absolutely pulling away from the grips of their riders as they were challenged by each other for the win they both desired. One more to hit grade two for Jayde, one more to grade three for Anna.

It seemed to be a dead heat at the wire, at least from Amber's angle. Henna knew Jayde had it by a nose and was grinning widely as the two attempted to slow down their bullet fillies. Amber glanced down at the stopwatch in her hand and grinned her small, secretive grin. Valencia peered over and her grin was brazen and unafraid, wide and amazed. She had no problems showing to the silent, waiting world that Jayde and Anna had just clocked off better fractions than Amber could hope for during their blowout. They were ready.