just cruising

MARISSA STAR AND SUNSET CRUSADE

Marissa's eyes focused on the track ahead, narrowing slightly. Beneath her, she could tell Sunset Crusade was doing the same. She seemed to move in slow motion as she prepared to start; her hands wound themselves tightly in the colt's mane, and her feet adjusted themselves in the stirrups. A sudden burst of speed and the pair were rocketing out of the gate and up the backstretch. Cruze got his legs under him quickly and raced up the stretch at a high speed. So quickly, Marissa had to slow him down a little at the turn.

They were nearly in the stretch now. Marissa could feel her colt's mounting excitement as he finished the turn; he knew it was time to really run now. Cruze began to increase his speed without direction, but maybe he was just reading Marissa's mind. Either way, she wasn't about to reprimand him for doing something right. Come on, Cruze! she urged him, pumping her arms and kneading her fists on the colt's sweaty neck in rhythm with his motion. Sunset Crusade lengthened his stride, taking each step with more speed. He accelerated to his top speed quickly, striking out powerfully with all fours. Marissa remained in sync with the racehorse, continuing to urge him even though she knew he'd reached his fastest pace. Go baby! she encouraged, as they passed the one furlong marker. Just one more furlong to go!

Cruze was still going strong when they passed the finish. Marissa stood taller in the stirrups, and put more pressure on the colt's mouth, asking him to slow down. Good boy! Marissa exclaimed in praise, rubbing the colt's sweaty neck affectionately as the tiring horse dropped back to canter. They cantered out a furlong, then turned and trotted off the track. Cruze was ready for whatever came at him next.