strong smile
Dec 26, 2013 10:00:50 GMT 10
Post by Snowflake on Dec 26, 2013 10:00:50 GMT 10
HEADSTRONG AND EVERYDAY SMILE WORK FOR THE UNICORN HORN DIRT*
As of now, it was unclear where the pair were headed mid year. But their next race would pretty much determine it. Right now, Headstrong and Everyday Smile were looking at possible runs in the Triple Crown or Tiara. Both were good horses, but they hadn't put in such great performances in the Breeder's Cup last year and had to prove they were good enough to go down the Triple Crown or Triple Tiara trail. Headstrong had been groomed to run in the Triple Crown for her career so far, whereas Everyday Smile had been back and forth between homes too many times to really have a proper direction. Her rider Olivia could only guess which race series the filly had been bred for, but considering her dam had gone for the Triple Crown, it could be either.
For now, they had the Unicorn Horn Dirt to conquer. It was a field full of strong horses, so it would not be easy. The nine furlong race had drawn eight horses originally, with one scratched this morning. In gate two would be Limited Edition, from Stride Of Perfection Stables. The colt had been bred by Star Thoroughbreds but sold in a yearling sale. He'd gone to Witch Creek Stables, then onto Stride of Perfection Stables where he was now their big hope for the Triple Crown. With a record of 18-8-8-2, and wins in the biggest juvenile races including the Breeder's Cup Juvenile, it was not hard to imagine why. Next there was Anodyne in gate three. The Intrepid Racing colt was beginning to come into his own after a long layoff for much of last year. There were reports he was also headed for the Triple Crown, which was not surprising. He had a record of 13-4-3-4 and had been third in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile.
Ivory Storms was next in gate four and was considered a dark horse, given his record of 10-1-2-4. Then there was Supernatural, also bred by Star Thoroughbreds. The three year old filly was now owned by Witch Creek Stables and had earned herself a record of 15-7-7-0. She'd been second in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile. It was said she was headed for the Triple Tiara. Fifty In Front of Valkyrie Stables had a record of 9-2-4-2 and with a win already this season, he looked like he was going to have a good year.
Gate seven and eight would hold Headstrong and Everyday Smile, the known threats but not the favourites. Headstrong, sired by War Admiral, had so much potential that was just lying in waiting. The filly had already earned herself a record of 15-5-6-2 - she had won the Follow The Hoofprints Dirt Classic, and the Gallop To The Gallows Stakes. Her performance in the Breeder's Cup had been affected only by her hot temper, causing her to flip out in a crucial moment. It was disappointing, but not entirely unexpected. Headstrong was exactly her namesake. Headstrong. So when she got mad, she lost it completely. As for Everyday Smile, she had just had a bad trip in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies. It was just one of those days when nothing went right for her. The Everyday Hero x Euphoria filly was back on form now, though, and was ready to squash the competition with her big chestnut butt. Her record of 11-6-4-0 proved that she was just as tough as the rest.
With no other die hard front runners in the field, Headstrong would be quite happy leading the race. She would of course be setting a fast pace like always, and the challengers were likely to come in the later stages of the race. Everyday Smile, Anodyne, Ivory Storms and Fifty In Front however would be competing for position right behind Rizz, leaving Supernatural behind them and Limited Edition to bring up the rear. The strategy was for Everyday Smile to avoid the crush of the rail by staying on the outside of the pack, and Headstrong would rocket out of the gate in the first place to take her position in the lead. In the last two furlongs they would break away from the pack, and hopefully hold off the closers.
Now that is was time to gallop, the aggressive duo Headstrong and Marissa bounded ahead. Everyday Smile and Olivia followed less quickly, but took position on Rizz's hindquarters. The taller, dark bay filly pinned her ears in warning, but Smiles ignored her. They rounded the turn quickly, staying right on the rail. As the corner straightened out and the stretch lay out before them, Smiles began to inch forward, drawing level with Rizz's shoulder before the other filly blasted forward with a massive burst of speed. Smiles reacted quickly, chasing after her stablemate with ferocity. The pair pounded down the stretch, using long and powerful strides to overcome one another. Rizz was still in the lead, but Smiles wasn't done yet. She found another gear and pushed herself forward to draw level with her stablemate, just in time to cross the line. Neither filly had triumphed. Both put up a bit of a fight when asked to slow down. It was clear that it wasn't clear who would win on race day - it could be either of them or neither of them. A tough race awaited, but the pair would go in and out of the race with a strong smile and a desire to win.
As of now, it was unclear where the pair were headed mid year. But their next race would pretty much determine it. Right now, Headstrong and Everyday Smile were looking at possible runs in the Triple Crown or Tiara. Both were good horses, but they hadn't put in such great performances in the Breeder's Cup last year and had to prove they were good enough to go down the Triple Crown or Triple Tiara trail. Headstrong had been groomed to run in the Triple Crown for her career so far, whereas Everyday Smile had been back and forth between homes too many times to really have a proper direction. Her rider Olivia could only guess which race series the filly had been bred for, but considering her dam had gone for the Triple Crown, it could be either.
For now, they had the Unicorn Horn Dirt to conquer. It was a field full of strong horses, so it would not be easy. The nine furlong race had drawn eight horses originally, with one scratched this morning. In gate two would be Limited Edition, from Stride Of Perfection Stables. The colt had been bred by Star Thoroughbreds but sold in a yearling sale. He'd gone to Witch Creek Stables, then onto Stride of Perfection Stables where he was now their big hope for the Triple Crown. With a record of 18-8-8-2, and wins in the biggest juvenile races including the Breeder's Cup Juvenile, it was not hard to imagine why. Next there was Anodyne in gate three. The Intrepid Racing colt was beginning to come into his own after a long layoff for much of last year. There were reports he was also headed for the Triple Crown, which was not surprising. He had a record of 13-4-3-4 and had been third in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile.
Ivory Storms was next in gate four and was considered a dark horse, given his record of 10-1-2-4. Then there was Supernatural, also bred by Star Thoroughbreds. The three year old filly was now owned by Witch Creek Stables and had earned herself a record of 15-7-7-0. She'd been second in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile. It was said she was headed for the Triple Tiara. Fifty In Front of Valkyrie Stables had a record of 9-2-4-2 and with a win already this season, he looked like he was going to have a good year.
Gate seven and eight would hold Headstrong and Everyday Smile, the known threats but not the favourites. Headstrong, sired by War Admiral, had so much potential that was just lying in waiting. The filly had already earned herself a record of 15-5-6-2 - she had won the Follow The Hoofprints Dirt Classic, and the Gallop To The Gallows Stakes. Her performance in the Breeder's Cup had been affected only by her hot temper, causing her to flip out in a crucial moment. It was disappointing, but not entirely unexpected. Headstrong was exactly her namesake. Headstrong. So when she got mad, she lost it completely. As for Everyday Smile, she had just had a bad trip in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies. It was just one of those days when nothing went right for her. The Everyday Hero x Euphoria filly was back on form now, though, and was ready to squash the competition with her big chestnut butt. Her record of 11-6-4-0 proved that she was just as tough as the rest.
With no other die hard front runners in the field, Headstrong would be quite happy leading the race. She would of course be setting a fast pace like always, and the challengers were likely to come in the later stages of the race. Everyday Smile, Anodyne, Ivory Storms and Fifty In Front however would be competing for position right behind Rizz, leaving Supernatural behind them and Limited Edition to bring up the rear. The strategy was for Everyday Smile to avoid the crush of the rail by staying on the outside of the pack, and Headstrong would rocket out of the gate in the first place to take her position in the lead. In the last two furlongs they would break away from the pack, and hopefully hold off the closers.
Now that is was time to gallop, the aggressive duo Headstrong and Marissa bounded ahead. Everyday Smile and Olivia followed less quickly, but took position on Rizz's hindquarters. The taller, dark bay filly pinned her ears in warning, but Smiles ignored her. They rounded the turn quickly, staying right on the rail. As the corner straightened out and the stretch lay out before them, Smiles began to inch forward, drawing level with Rizz's shoulder before the other filly blasted forward with a massive burst of speed. Smiles reacted quickly, chasing after her stablemate with ferocity. The pair pounded down the stretch, using long and powerful strides to overcome one another. Rizz was still in the lead, but Smiles wasn't done yet. She found another gear and pushed herself forward to draw level with her stablemate, just in time to cross the line. Neither filly had triumphed. Both put up a bit of a fight when asked to slow down. It was clear that it wasn't clear who would win on race day - it could be either of them or neither of them. A tough race awaited, but the pair would go in and out of the race with a strong smile and a desire to win.