Post by Snowflake on Dec 26, 2013 9:52:34 GMT 10
LUSITANIA'S SOLDIER WORKS FOR THE CLARK HANDICAP*
BORN TO IMPRESS WORKS FOR THE UNICORN HORN DIRT CLASSIC*
Marissa was legged up onto Soldier with a grin on her face. This year was Lusitania's Soldier's last year of racing, and he was going to make it good. He had had a great end to last season, winning the Flashpoint Derby and then going on to place second in the Breeder's Cup Marathon, beating out five talented horses. Soldier was well rested and raring to go again, and he could even have the Classic on the cards at the end of this year if he did as well as his Classic winning dam did at his age. Today he was working for the Clark Handicap, an eleven furlong dirt race held at The Wire.
Equally ready for a fabulous season was Born To Impress. The now four year old Kentucky Derby winner had placed third in the very competitive Breeder's Cup Classic last month, and after time to rest and recuperate, he was ready to go again. Sarah also had a smile on her face as she mounted the tall black colt, who stood a half hand higher than his workout partner. This year he had plans to dominate in the four year old and over races, and first on the hit list was the Unicorn Horn Dirt Classic, run over eleven furlongs on dirt.
The pair began their warm up with a brisk, ground eating trot on the dirt track. The fiercely dominant Impress tried to show Soldier who was boss, but the five year old stallion just ignored him. For Soldier, being the fastest was more important, not who was taller, darker, or more handsome. Of course, it was important to Impress, too. He obviously considered himself somewhat a jack of all trades - he was fast, as well as being tall, dark and handsome. And truthfully, he was also a bit of a jerk.
In his race, Lusitania's Soldier had Eternal Phantom and Midnight Thriller to contend with. Eternal Phantom had won the Kentucky Derby the year that Soldier was three. Soldier had skipped the Derby and Preakness Stakes and gone onto the Belmont Stakes to place second behind stablemate Euphoria's Warrior. Eternal Phantom was versatile, and showed preference for either leading or closing, either of which she could choose on the day. Midnight Thriller was a stalker. Soldier was a closer. Basically, it was anyone's race because the field was so small.
Impress' race had also barely drawn a crowd, with only four entries. Among them were Sweet Inferno, Belmont Stakes winner; Nightshade, Breeder's Cup Juvenile winner; and Red Herring, the all around pain in the butt. He was a pace presser, and so he had ruined many horses chances of winning purely by driving them mad .. into a mad pace.
After a lengthy trot and a decent canter, it was time for action. The two colts sprinted ahead when cued to gallop, headed for the turn. Soldier had the inside, and allowed Impress to take the lead from the outside as they rounded the corner. Impress inched ahead the whole time, and accelerated hard the moment the stretch was straight out before him. Marissa smirked. Impress wouldn't know what hit him when Soldier closed. She allowed Impress to get a little further ahead of Soldier, despite her colt's protests. Then she let him go. Soldier hauled it, throwing his body forward with all his might, going to full flight within moments, sprinting toward the finish. This was how to close! Impress heard them coming and dug in, delaying them slightly. But Soldier showed his strength and pulled ahead in time to take the workout by a nose. Impress looked mortified. Sarah wasn't surprised. Impress needed to work on his work ethic once he was in the lead. Grinning, Marissa slapped Solder's sweaty neck affectionately. They were ready for their races.
BORN TO IMPRESS WORKS FOR THE UNICORN HORN DIRT CLASSIC*
Marissa was legged up onto Soldier with a grin on her face. This year was Lusitania's Soldier's last year of racing, and he was going to make it good. He had had a great end to last season, winning the Flashpoint Derby and then going on to place second in the Breeder's Cup Marathon, beating out five talented horses. Soldier was well rested and raring to go again, and he could even have the Classic on the cards at the end of this year if he did as well as his Classic winning dam did at his age. Today he was working for the Clark Handicap, an eleven furlong dirt race held at The Wire.
Equally ready for a fabulous season was Born To Impress. The now four year old Kentucky Derby winner had placed third in the very competitive Breeder's Cup Classic last month, and after time to rest and recuperate, he was ready to go again. Sarah also had a smile on her face as she mounted the tall black colt, who stood a half hand higher than his workout partner. This year he had plans to dominate in the four year old and over races, and first on the hit list was the Unicorn Horn Dirt Classic, run over eleven furlongs on dirt.
The pair began their warm up with a brisk, ground eating trot on the dirt track. The fiercely dominant Impress tried to show Soldier who was boss, but the five year old stallion just ignored him. For Soldier, being the fastest was more important, not who was taller, darker, or more handsome. Of course, it was important to Impress, too. He obviously considered himself somewhat a jack of all trades - he was fast, as well as being tall, dark and handsome. And truthfully, he was also a bit of a jerk.
In his race, Lusitania's Soldier had Eternal Phantom and Midnight Thriller to contend with. Eternal Phantom had won the Kentucky Derby the year that Soldier was three. Soldier had skipped the Derby and Preakness Stakes and gone onto the Belmont Stakes to place second behind stablemate Euphoria's Warrior. Eternal Phantom was versatile, and showed preference for either leading or closing, either of which she could choose on the day. Midnight Thriller was a stalker. Soldier was a closer. Basically, it was anyone's race because the field was so small.
Impress' race had also barely drawn a crowd, with only four entries. Among them were Sweet Inferno, Belmont Stakes winner; Nightshade, Breeder's Cup Juvenile winner; and Red Herring, the all around pain in the butt. He was a pace presser, and so he had ruined many horses chances of winning purely by driving them mad .. into a mad pace.
After a lengthy trot and a decent canter, it was time for action. The two colts sprinted ahead when cued to gallop, headed for the turn. Soldier had the inside, and allowed Impress to take the lead from the outside as they rounded the corner. Impress inched ahead the whole time, and accelerated hard the moment the stretch was straight out before him. Marissa smirked. Impress wouldn't know what hit him when Soldier closed. She allowed Impress to get a little further ahead of Soldier, despite her colt's protests. Then she let him go. Soldier hauled it, throwing his body forward with all his might, going to full flight within moments, sprinting toward the finish. This was how to close! Impress heard them coming and dug in, delaying them slightly. But Soldier showed his strength and pulled ahead in time to take the workout by a nose. Impress looked mortified. Sarah wasn't surprised. Impress needed to work on his work ethic once he was in the lead. Grinning, Marissa slapped Solder's sweaty neck affectionately. They were ready for their races.