BREEDER'S CUP WORKOUTS

BLUE ME AWAY WORKS FOR THE BREEDER'S CUP MILE
SILENT FURY WORKS FOR THE BREEDER'S CUP TURF

It was early morning, and mild. It was the last week of winter and foals had already been born. There had not been a frost in several days and spring grass was poking out of the ground. The turf track was firm but with the right amount of give. Marissa lead Silence down to the track, where Blaze and Blue Me Away waited, speaking to trainer James. The big five year old stallion eyed Blue Me Away off with hatred in his eyes. Silence had never liked Blue. Maybe it was because he knew what an intensely talented racehorse Blue was. Or it was just that Silence never liked anyone. Whatever it was, a little workout competition wouldn't do any harm. It could only serve the purpose of making them work even harder for the win on race day. Breeder's Cup race day.

Marissa mounted up on Silence and gave his sides a gentle tap. The dark bay thoroughbred launched into trot, holding his head high with his tail flowing behind him in the slight breeze. Blaze hopped up on Blue and didn't need to tell the colt what to do. They quickly caught up to Silent Fury and Marissa and kept a safe distance in case Silence lashed out. It wouldn't be the first time. Neck arched, Blue demonstrated his impressiveness to his workout partner. Silence quickened his pace, and tried to swing his hindquarters around. Oh no you don't. Marissa growled, nudging the stallion hard back in line.

They began their workout with some simple trotting exercises, separately of course. Blue and Blaze hung back, giving dominant Silent Fury a chance to cool it. After several minutes, his trot became smooth and controlled. Marissa considered the Breeder's Cup Turf, in which Silence was due to run. It was a small field of four, with surprise entrant Royal Cadenza, whom had been sold from Star Thoroughbreds to Stride Of Perfection Stables a few months ago. There was also Frozen Motion and Italian Ice, whose achievements of the year rivaled Silence's vast success. The Breeder's Cup Turf was ten furlongs on turf (of course) for horses aged three and over and grade three plus. It would be a tough race, despite the small field. Less competition certainly didn't translate to less quality competition. Silence would have his dominance challenged for sure, but the stallion would rise to the occasion just like he had all year.

Bringing the stallions back together, but still maintaining a safe horizontal distance between the two, they moved on into canter. It was Blaze's turn to consider the race he and Blue Me Away were entered in. Like the Turf, the Breeder's Cup Mile had a small but top quality field. Bella Luna, Firebird and Axis Mundae would all be gunning for the win. Blue Me Away however had raced terrifically in recent weeks after being in a rut for most of the year. He had been conditioned for this and he was ready to bring it all out to win.

A few more minutes passed, and they quickly approached their gallop point. A quick blowout nose to nose was the aim to keep the two thoroughbreds fighting fit and ready to win. Their strides lengthened, their hearts quickened, and suddenly they were flying. Marissa felt Silence drift closer to Blue, his stance menacing with flattened ears and bared teeth. As she tried to maneuver the stallion back to the rail Blue then did something he hadn't done before, snaking his head and threatening to bite Silence. The stallion backed off slightly in surprise, and galloped faster. Blue kept up easily, feeling good about himself. Blaze grinned. Blue was really starting to take charge - Y14 would be his year! and hopefully, this weekend the Breeder's Cup Mile would be his!

The two thoroughbreds pounded on around the turn and into the stretch. They didn't require any urging, no crack of the whip. The stallions lengthened their strides, covering ground faster and more powerfully with each one.

EUPHORIA'S WARRIOR WORKS FOR THE BREEDER'S CUP CLASSIC
LUSITANIA'S SOLDIER WORKS FOR THE BREEDER'S CUP MARATHON

Warming up side by side, you would think the pair were twins. They almost were, same age, sired by the same stallion, and their dams were twins. Lusitania's Soldier was more like his dam, becoming better with age. He still had another year or two of racing to go. Euphoria's Warrior had been consistent from the beginning, and was now headed for retirement. But first the Breeder's Cup needed to be tackled - Warrior was headed for the Classic for the second time, and Soldier was due to make his first Breeder's Cup run in the Marathon.

The Breeder's Cup Marathon had drawn a large field of seven talented horses. The twelve furlong race was a true test of stamina, and Soldier had proved many times he was capable of going the distance. Contenders in the race included Midnight Thriller, Bellefire, Indian Darling, GS Super Charged, Fire Dancer and Sweet Inferno. Midnight Thriller was a four year old mare from Witch Creek Stables. A full sister to Eternal Phantom, the mare hadn't yet raced to her full potential, with a record of 38-11-12-5. She liked the stalker position behind the leaders.

Bellefire was a three year old filly from Intrepid Racing. Star Thoroughbreds had once been interested in purchasing the filly with her incredible bloodlines, but now it was a good thing they hadn't. With a few stables closing down they had bitten off more than they could chew. The filly was on the up, reaching the verge of grade two back in December Week 1. But she had also raced November Week 4 and last week, which would make her tired coming into this race. She was also a stalker. Indian Darling in the next gate was the same age with similar achievements to her stablemate. Given that she had raced the last two weeks in a row, she would also be going into the race tired.

GS Super Charged of Nature Blue Stables would start from the next gate. The three year old colt was grade three and had tried his luck in many of the the Triple series this year, with no wins. He had however taken eight wins and would be one to watch. He ran as a closer. Next was Fire Dancer, from Stride Of Perfection Stables. The grade one mare had raced another good season, and would be looking to put the icing on the cake. The mid pack mare was the oldest horse in the field at five years. Lastly, there was Sweet Inferno from Stride Of Perfection Stables. The three year old filly had had a fantastic season, her most notable wins being the Belmont Stakes and the Climax Cup. She was grade two and a front runner.

Lusitania's Soldier himself would break from gate one. The four year old colt had had an excellent season and was now truly climbing the ranks. With wins in the Flashpoint Derby and Winter Cup recently, as well as second places in the Valorizaire Derby and Consumato Derby. As a closer, Soldier would be able to conserve plenty of energy for the stretch - he just had to time it right.

Moving on into canter, Stella considered Warrior's chances. He was up against his own stablemate, for starters. Born To Impress was gaining strength all the time, and he could give Warrior a run for his money. But it wasn't only Impress they had to worry about - there was also Flashy Wings, Paradise Island, Eternal Phantom, Red Herring and Jazzaway. Flashy Wings had won the Classic last year, and Eternal Phantom had won the Ladies Classic, which was back to being the Distaff this year. Stride Of Perfection's horses looked strong, but they'd had their turn. It was time to put them back in their place, and Warrior could do that. Warrior had raced at the top of his game this year, and unlike many of his competitors, had not dropped down a level just to secure a win. No, Warrior had not raced in an undercard race since he was two. Now four, the colt was stronger than ever for it.

Born To Impress had drawn gate one. Ridden by Sarah, the three year old had become a weapon. He was a Kentucky Derby winner! With two losses since his last win, the black thoroughbred was out for blood.. and a win. In gate three would be Paradise Island from In Stride. Her many changes of home had probably stunted the filly's potential, but nevertheless she was a top contender. Like Born To Impress, she was coming into the race after a few losses and would be gunning for the win. Next was Red Herring from Witch Creek in gate four. At three years old, Red Herring was bursting with potential. He had a reputation for pressuring front runners into crazy speeds, and had become War Cry's nemesis. The pair had pushed each other right out of contention on a few occasions, including the Kentucky Derby. Next was Jazzaway, from Nature Blue Stables. He was somewhat outclassed by the rest of the competition, but Stella knew better than to count him out for it. Flashy Wings and Eternal Phantom had drawn the last two gates.

Euphoria's Warrior had drawn gate two. He'd last raced in the last week of November, a month ago, for a win in the Palm Tree Paradise Invitational. He'd beaten out Paradise Island, Sweet Inferno, Red Herring and Fire Dancer for the win, all very strong racehorses. It had been a perfect last race before the Breeder's Cup. He was now rested and ready to run again, this time to win the Classic. As a closer, Warrior would run at the back on the pack until the last possible moment before kicking into his highest gear and flying wide down the stretch. Eternal Phantom would possibly take up the same position, or she would set the pace. The rest of the field were stalkers, with Jazzaway as the only true frontrunner. It was a front heavy field, meaning Warrior had an advantage.

The time to gallop had arrived and the pair of stallions accelerated together. Their legs extended, lengthening their strides, covering more ground. Dirt flicked up behind them as they showed the world their heels. They entered the turn and didn't slow down, instead accelerating more. As closers, they regularly made their moves on the final turn, going wide to secure their path to the win.