the showdown

[S u N f r O s T ~]

FORBIDDEN TO FLY AND HENNA TURATH
ETERNAL PHANTOM AND KRYSTAL YHATE
LYNARA'S KINGDOM AND AMBER BLACK

The wind whipped fiercely across the dirt track, as fiercely as the competition that was about to befall the plain. The SOPS dirt gleamed brightly in the early morning sunlight, slightly frostbitten from the surges of cold that had come from last night. A lone figure walked along the track rail, a smirk crafted on her face. Valencia Andrews had been told by Amber Black that she was needed at the track five am sharp in order to clock for a workout. She would not be riding in such a workout, but she had a feeling she wouldn't need to in order to feel the blistering speed put out by the runners. This was the day that three big three year olds would be facing off against each other in a battle that was going to blitz the track. She had a couple of fire extinguishers in the trunk of her car just in case they were necessary. The very thought made her grin.

At the barn, the first horse was beginning to make her way to the track. Ever prompt and strongest when it was darkest, Eternal Phantom looked gorgeous as she floated over to the dirt track. Every look from her eyes radiated power, and the sleek layer of muscle that covered her body only added to the powerful vision she embodied. This was a filly who knew her stuff out there and felt deep within herself that she was queen of the track. She had taken a month off from racing after claiming the Independance Stakes over her top rivals in a close but winning fashion. Her next start was in the Autumn Cup Grade Two Dirt and it was hoped that she would win. By doing so she would only require one more until she achieved grade one. Krystal Yhate was ever punctual and as they finally reached the turf track she waved Valencia over. Here for the big show Valencia? Valencia's smirk widened. Wouldn't miss it Krystal. I have the fire extinguishers ready. Krystal laughed openly, and Phantie quietly snorted as though reminding her rider that this was serious business.

The black horse and her rider began to warm up on the track, and then Amber Black appeared aboard her gray filly. Lynara's Kingdom had perhaps been the most impressive - and surprising - horse of the year. With nine wins and only three losses this season, she had been the first of the three year olds to hit grade one. It was ironic and a bit of a redemption for Lynara, who had been the last two year old to hit grade four last year and had usually placed out of the top three. Now she had been the fastest and Amber Black couldn't have been more pleased with the gray filly she had chosen to ride. Lynara was temperamental, moody and a dangerous ride, not only because she was deadly in temper but deadly in speed as well. Just sticking to the saddle was difficult enough when the filly was in full flight. Amber's face was composed and calculating as she rode the filly forward, feeling for any sort of irregularity. She felt smooth as could be and had come out firing in the Tick Tock Sprint with that win. They had the Turquoise Sprint coming up and Amber felt confident of their chances against any competition that could be thrown against them.

They stopped at the edge of the dirt track and Lynara surveyed her domain with a tinge of arrogance in her eyes. She set off the instant Amber compared, her stride long and powerful and eyes whipping about as they began to warm up. As soon as she had taken off the loud noises of Forbidden To Fly filled the air. The three year old colt squealed as he was led out of the barn. Henna Turath mounted up with a fond smile on her face. She alone was impervious to the noise of the Flying Colours son. Fly seriously favored the Wire dirt track, recording all of his wins these this season with another race next week. He only needed one more win to join the ranks of the seven current grade ones SOPS was racing and Henna was excited to see it happen. Her smile widened as Fly eagerly bounded under her capable hands, expressing his enthusiasm. They jauntily began to warm up over the dirt, the Breeders Cup Juvenile winner looking every inch the immature but impressive horse he was.

Valencia watched the three horses warm up with a critical look in her eye. So far Phantie looked the most impressive out there. The black filly just had so much unbridled power in every stride. Lynara's power didn't compare to it yet, likely because Phantie was a full force aggression while Lynara was an occasional one. Not that the gray couldn't give the black a run for her money. Fly looked great as well, but he seemed like a yearling next to the stern seriousness of the two fillies he'd be working with today. Valencia smirked. Beneath that easy going and energetic facade was the truly talented racehorse who had stolen the jewel of Instant Success's juvenile campaign last year. He would be sitting indiscretely in the middle of the pack for this race, while Phantie could be behind or ahead and Lynara could be anywhere. Conditions like this made for a fantastic race. They would be going eight furlongs and Valencia felt the excitement unfolding before her.

Amber whistled once. Fly reacted with an excited snort and very nearly bucked if Henna hadn't sung just the right note in time. Fly reacted to bright, cheerful, happy music - it was a reflection of his inner shelf. Now the gray calmed under her hands and they trotted over to Amber and her demonic gray filly. Lynara's eyes flared and Amber tightened her grip on the reins as the filly's teeth became bared and snapped barely a neck length from Fly. The filly had just decided to turn violent and Amber couldn't say she was surprised. That was just who Lynara was. Krystal finally arrived and Phantie alone was cool as a cucumber as she halted and waited with an imperious air about her. All right ladies, we know what we're doing. Gallop a mile and a half, blitz them through...six furlongs. Phantie needs a bit of a pick up. She'll need to work to stick during the six. Make sure you're right with us Krystal. Run where she wants. Henna, Fly knows his thing. Just let him run. We've got full campaigns ahead of us, and there's a sale at Akita Rose I want to go to. Let's get this done.

The excitement was palpable as the three thoroughbreds whirled around and were then let into gallops. Lynara was off the fastest, her sudden aggression making her difficult to control. Amber held on tight, holding the filly's head almost to her chest in an effort to keep her controlled. The filly's hooves barely sank into the dirt before lifting off again. She was truly a picture of sprinting motion today. Fly happily took position right next to her, pushed to a bit faster pace than planned but not racing yet. Phantie ghosted along behind, her powerful strides threatening fire as her eyes coldly measured the distance to her opponents, mind churning possibilities and strategies for the run. Phantie had become even more of a strategist lately. Her tough campaigns this year had made her grow as a racehorse into a truly deadly force.

The horses thundered through the mile and a half with increasing desire each furlong. By the end of the final furlong Lynara was essentially uncontrollable. She swung out along the final turn, nose pointed to the sky, snorting and being difficult. Fly and Phantie passed her by as Amber coaxed the gray filly into running again. It didn't take much - once Lynara saw the other two galloping away she took off like a bullet, and she was soon caught right up with them again. The dirt flying from their hooves displeased her, and she pulled to the inside before doubling her speed in a matter of a stride. Now they were into the blitz and Lynara was blitzing. The With A Snap daughter nearly left the other two horses behind.

Fly snorted even as he ran but didn't appear keen on staying with Lynara's quick pace. Henna refused to be left behind and pressed it, her mouth set in a grim, tight line. Krystal was pushing Phantie, who wanted none of the sprinting so early on. The black filly was obviously displeased but she wasn't about to be left behind. She settled for tucking behind the other two, comfortably swinging to the inside around the first turn and taking the inside rail. Fly was sandwiched in between the two fillies and couldn't be happier. He nickered and Henna sang a quick note to get him back on track. The quarter was blistering, the pace set almost entirely by Lynara who showed no signs of stopping. The filly was sprinter through and through and as she pulled for more rein Amber let her have it, dropping lower into her seat to avoid the worst of the wind.

The gray filly was leaving them behind. Her legs reached out and snapped back in quickening cadence and she was beginning to make a gap. Fly snorted as Henna tried to get him to keep going. He knew exactly where the filly was but wasn't willing to go that fast just yet. Phantie, on the opposite side of the spectrum, was finding a sprinting gear within her and was shooting through on the rail, keeping pace. Lightning crackled between the two fillies as they matched each other stride for stride, Fly squeezed in between. The docile colt seemed unaffected by the rioting fillies and was just running happily along. Henna would have sighed if she hadn't known to expect this kind of behavior. She shook the reins and woke him up as they swung into the final turn. Something clicked in Fly's brain. He suddenly snorted and quickened his stride, suddenly keeping up easily with the two pressured fillies.

The trio roared into the backstretch and Valencia thought her eyes were going to pop out of her head as the already quick fractions quickened. Lynara and Phantie were in a death match and Fly was joining in. Not one of them gave an inch as they flashed over the finish line and then were slowly pulled up. Lynara and Phantie were each full of it still while Fly just slowed but tossed his head in a rarely serious show of displeasure. The expressions on the three jockeys' faces were proud. They had three firecracker thoroughbreds and they loved the speed. The showdown had ended for now, to be commenced at a later date.