upper middle class
Dec 23, 2013 10:06:39 GMT 10
Post by Snowflake on Dec 23, 2013 10:06:39 GMT 10
RADIANT SILVER WORKS FOR THE UPPER DECK DERBY
FLY BY DARKNESS WORKS FOR THE MIDDLIENT DERBY*
It was essentially now or never for Radiant Silver. He had to start picking up his game or he wouldn't be going to the Triple Crown, the races he'd been bred for. His sire Radiance had won the Belmont Stakes after winning the Wood Memorial Stakes and the Breeder's Cup Juvenile. His dam Silver Stalker had won the Mother Goose Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Tiara. It was in Rad's blood to at least run in the Triple Crown, if not take a win in one of it's three prestigious races. Stella let out a sigh as she mounted the bay colt and set him off at a brisk walk. She had worked with him on day one and wondered if she just wasn't the right jockey for him. If he didn't do better in the Upper Deck Derby than his previous three races, she decided she would give him to Blaze to ride.
Sarah was pleased with Fly By Darkness. They had run their first race together in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies at the end of last month, and come in third. Considering the caliber of fillies in the race, it was a great result and Sarah was certain there was plenty of wins to come from Flyby. It was in her blood, after all. Her sire Prancing In The Darkness had raced at G1 level, and sired Hall of Fame mare Dare To Dream. Her dam Born To Fly had galloped to victory twenty times, nearly half of her forty four starts. Now she was also the dam of Triple Tiara champion and Hall of Fame inductee Born To Soar, and the dam of G1 Kentucky Derby winner Born To Impress. They set off at a brisk walk onto the dirt track, then switched to trot to catch up with Radiant Silver and Stella, who also broke into trot when they got close.
After a lap of trotting, they moved on into canter. The ride was silent and uneventful so far. The pair were working for their next races and it would be Radiant Silver's second start of the year, following a disappointing fifth place in the Indiana Derby last weekend. The colt had five weeks and a few races to improve before his first start on the road to the Triple Crown, which was to begin with the Southwest Stakes in the first week of March. If he wasn't ready for the competition in that race, though, it would be the end of the Triple Crown hope for him, and it was likely he'd fade into the background or be retired or sold because the sad truth was Star Thoroughbreds simply had too many horses to focus on all of them. The Upper Deck Derby was eleven furlongs over dirt for grade fives only. There were five entrants so far, including Heart Of Rio, Maliah, GM Halloweentown and Beyond Perfection. All of them were at the same level, so Stella thought Rad probably had a very good chance of winning.
For Fly By Darkness, it was her first start of the year and she was getting right down to business. The Middlient Derby was a ten furlong race over dirt for grade fours only, and had so far attracted a field of four. Entries weren't closed yet though, so that could change. So far, Battle Wings, Restricted Access and Lucky Silver were entered. Battle Wings, owned by Stride Of Perfection Stables, was the big threat. Sired by Akuma Battlecry and out of Forbidden Wings, she had the breeding to be amazing and had won the Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies. Restricted Access had also beaten Flyby to the post in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies to take second. The Intrepid Racing owned thoroughbred also had nice breeding, as a half sister of Lynara's Kingdom. Lucky Silver was a five year old stallion who had previously been owned and raced by Star Thoroughbreds. His greatest achievement had been third place in the Belmont Stakes, and after thirty five starts he only had five wins. Still, Sarah wouldn't count him out. She'd ridden him before and knew he was determined, and as a stallion against three year old fillies he could possibly do it.
The two thoroughbreds were thoroughly warmed up now, and moved into gallop immediately on cue. As a mid packer and a closer, neither was too fussed about taking the lead, but instead they galloped gamely side by side. The competitiveness between them would shine through in the final moments of the gallop. Entering the turn, neither slowed down. Radiant Silver was on the outside and lost a slight amount of ground. As the turn ended and the track stretched out before them, Stella jiggled the reins and the colt hit the speed, gaining ground and then some, taking the lead by a nose. Fly By Darkness hadn't got going yet, and as they hit halfway down the stretch, she began to pour on the speed. It was as if they had reversed roles, with Flyby closing and Rad in full flight now a length ahead. This was how Flyby worked best though. With no competition, she wouldn't run her best. So with another horse in front of her and her jockey telling her to go, the filly took off. With lengthened, powerful strides, Flyby began to gain on her workout partner, who had his ears flattened against the wind. With only metres to go, it was going to be close. They flashed by the finish and it wasn't clear who had been first. The only thing that was clear was that both horses were ready to win, and soon.
FLY BY DARKNESS WORKS FOR THE MIDDLIENT DERBY*
It was essentially now or never for Radiant Silver. He had to start picking up his game or he wouldn't be going to the Triple Crown, the races he'd been bred for. His sire Radiance had won the Belmont Stakes after winning the Wood Memorial Stakes and the Breeder's Cup Juvenile. His dam Silver Stalker had won the Mother Goose Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Tiara. It was in Rad's blood to at least run in the Triple Crown, if not take a win in one of it's three prestigious races. Stella let out a sigh as she mounted the bay colt and set him off at a brisk walk. She had worked with him on day one and wondered if she just wasn't the right jockey for him. If he didn't do better in the Upper Deck Derby than his previous three races, she decided she would give him to Blaze to ride.
Sarah was pleased with Fly By Darkness. They had run their first race together in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies at the end of last month, and come in third. Considering the caliber of fillies in the race, it was a great result and Sarah was certain there was plenty of wins to come from Flyby. It was in her blood, after all. Her sire Prancing In The Darkness had raced at G1 level, and sired Hall of Fame mare Dare To Dream. Her dam Born To Fly had galloped to victory twenty times, nearly half of her forty four starts. Now she was also the dam of Triple Tiara champion and Hall of Fame inductee Born To Soar, and the dam of G1 Kentucky Derby winner Born To Impress. They set off at a brisk walk onto the dirt track, then switched to trot to catch up with Radiant Silver and Stella, who also broke into trot when they got close.
After a lap of trotting, they moved on into canter. The ride was silent and uneventful so far. The pair were working for their next races and it would be Radiant Silver's second start of the year, following a disappointing fifth place in the Indiana Derby last weekend. The colt had five weeks and a few races to improve before his first start on the road to the Triple Crown, which was to begin with the Southwest Stakes in the first week of March. If he wasn't ready for the competition in that race, though, it would be the end of the Triple Crown hope for him, and it was likely he'd fade into the background or be retired or sold because the sad truth was Star Thoroughbreds simply had too many horses to focus on all of them. The Upper Deck Derby was eleven furlongs over dirt for grade fives only. There were five entrants so far, including Heart Of Rio, Maliah, GM Halloweentown and Beyond Perfection. All of them were at the same level, so Stella thought Rad probably had a very good chance of winning.
For Fly By Darkness, it was her first start of the year and she was getting right down to business. The Middlient Derby was a ten furlong race over dirt for grade fours only, and had so far attracted a field of four. Entries weren't closed yet though, so that could change. So far, Battle Wings, Restricted Access and Lucky Silver were entered. Battle Wings, owned by Stride Of Perfection Stables, was the big threat. Sired by Akuma Battlecry and out of Forbidden Wings, she had the breeding to be amazing and had won the Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies. Restricted Access had also beaten Flyby to the post in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies to take second. The Intrepid Racing owned thoroughbred also had nice breeding, as a half sister of Lynara's Kingdom. Lucky Silver was a five year old stallion who had previously been owned and raced by Star Thoroughbreds. His greatest achievement had been third place in the Belmont Stakes, and after thirty five starts he only had five wins. Still, Sarah wouldn't count him out. She'd ridden him before and knew he was determined, and as a stallion against three year old fillies he could possibly do it.
The two thoroughbreds were thoroughly warmed up now, and moved into gallop immediately on cue. As a mid packer and a closer, neither was too fussed about taking the lead, but instead they galloped gamely side by side. The competitiveness between them would shine through in the final moments of the gallop. Entering the turn, neither slowed down. Radiant Silver was on the outside and lost a slight amount of ground. As the turn ended and the track stretched out before them, Stella jiggled the reins and the colt hit the speed, gaining ground and then some, taking the lead by a nose. Fly By Darkness hadn't got going yet, and as they hit halfway down the stretch, she began to pour on the speed. It was as if they had reversed roles, with Flyby closing and Rad in full flight now a length ahead. This was how Flyby worked best though. With no competition, she wouldn't run her best. So with another horse in front of her and her jockey telling her to go, the filly took off. With lengthened, powerful strides, Flyby began to gain on her workout partner, who had his ears flattened against the wind. With only metres to go, it was going to be close. They flashed by the finish and it wasn't clear who had been first. The only thing that was clear was that both horses were ready to win, and soon.