one last battle

SUNSET CRUSADE AND BANK ON GREATNESS WORK FOR THE BREEDER'S CUP CLASSIC
HERE'S THE KING WORKS FOR THE BREEDER'S CUP SPRINT

Hello handsome. Sarah greeted the five year old grey stallion affectionately. Bank On Greatness exhaled gently, touching his nose to her hand. She smiled, rubbing its velvety softness, while sneaking him a piece of apple. The stallion seemed to smile as he chomped on it, clearly enjoying its sweetness. Sarah clipped on Greatness's lead rope, then let herself into his stall and began to brush him. With the Breeder's Cup just a week away, Sarah had finally made the decision to run Greatness in the Classic. It was only fitting that the stallion got the chance to run in the famed race, since he'd won the Breeder's Cup Juvenile, Marathon and Dirt Mile in his previous seasons.

Thinking of the Breeder's Cup made Sarah's stomach churn a little. The competition was getting fiercer every year, and she felt more anxious this year than any other. Probably because many of their horses would be running, and it was stressful to try and prepare them as well as talk to, or ward off the press. At least at home the media could not just walk into the stables, or watch them workout. Behind her, the stall door opened and Bank On Greatness watched someone walk in. Strong, muscular arms slipped around her waist and she heard her husband whisper in her ear. Ready? He asked, kissing her neck.

They'd been together for over three years, and married for nearly two. His touch still made her feel tingly, though, and she was deeply in love with him. Sarah turned around and curled her arms around James' neck, kissing him. Yes. Bank On Greatness was first to work out this morning. As if to remind her who the attention should be on, the thoroughbred nudged her, snorting. Grinning, the pair quickly saddled the horse and led him down to the dirt track.

There they were met by Marissa and Stella, who were already mounted up and warming up Sunset Crusade and Here's The King. King was due to run in the Sprint, while Sunset Crusade would also run in the Classic with Greatness. Sarah received a leg up, and last instructions from James. Then they headed off at a trot in single file on the outer edge of the dirt track. Sunset Crusade lead the trio, arching his neck with pride. There was a spring in his step, and a sparkle in his eye. The way his muscles rippled under his shining bay coat told anyone who saw him that the colt was in peak condition.

Bank On Greatness was second in line. The stallion moved with strong, purposeful strides, his head was up and his mane and tail flowed in the wind, looking like silver silk. Here's The King brought up the rear, looking relaxed and ready for a race. His muscles bulged under his bay coat as they tensed and relaxed with each stride. After a short while, they moved on into canter, and cantered side by side. The three riders discussed the upcoming races with some excitement and nervousness. Stella fell quiet as Sarah and Marissa chatted about the Classic.

They were up against Limitless Time, Moondance, and Flashy Wings. Limitless Time was the longshot of the field, recently returned after over a year off. The only race he'd won this season had not contained any of the horses in the Classic field. Moondance had won the Classic last year and was definitely a threat. The mare had recently won the Dubai World Cup against everyone in the Classic field except Sunset Crusade, who hadn't run. She was certainly one to beat. Then there was Flashy Wings. Undoubtedly an excellent colt, who had taken two legs of the Triple Crown and the Climax Cup this year. His jockey apparently had a real grudge for Sunset Crusade after Marissa's boy won the Kentucky Derby.

Sunset Crusade was to run from gate four. Three years old, and winner of ten races this year including the Kentucky Derby. His record for the season stood at 17-10-5-2, and overall at 29-13-9-6. Cruze was a strong frontrunner, and had lead all the races he had won from wire to wire. He could do it again in the Classic - there was no other front runner to pressure him, and he was certainly capable of outrunning everyone else. His strategy was to lead, wire to wire, and make his move late as possible to conserve as much energy as possible for his bid for the win. Same as always.

Bank On Greatness was five years old, and this would be the last race of his career. He'd previously won three Breeder's Cup races, and Sarah longed for a fourth. His full brother Impressario had won four, so he could too. The Classic had to be his. He'd only been lightly raced, bringing his record for the season to 15-5-7-1, and his career record to 70-24-18-12. His most recent win had been in the Dubai Colt Cup against everyone in the Classic field, excluding Moondance. Greatness's race strategy would be to coast along easily behind Sunset Crusade, who would move away from the rail at the top of the stretch to give him room to run. Obviously, both horses could not win. It could only be one of them, and they would not stand in each other's way.

Here's The King was running in the Breeder's Cup Sprint. He was up against just Pegasus Wings and Beltane, after Limited Bluez had been scratched. Beltane was the youngest of the field, at three, and a filly. She was not being considered too much of a threat. Pegasus Wings was King's younger half brother and arch rival. The black five year old stallion had never placed out of the top three, and his career record was incredible at 50-28-14-8. He'd won two Breeder's Cup races, and his record for this season stood at 12-7-3-2.

King was six years old, and had been only lightly raced over his entire career. In five seasons of racing, his record was at 43-17-14-7. This season, he had won five times, placed second five times, third twice and fourth twice. He was not as consistent as his little brother, but he had beaten him before and could do it again. Both Beltane and Pegasus Wings were frontunners. Stella hoped the pair would run themselves ragged with a speed duel, so King could close easily in the stretch and beat them both. But she knew Pegasus Wings was highly capable of holding high speed for an entire race, so King would have to put on a real closing kick to take him over in the stretch to win.

After over a lap of warming up, they were ready to gallop. Just four furlongs, starting at the four furlong pole. The three riders prepared to gallop by checking their balance, adjusting their grip on the reins and taking a handful of mane, if necessary. The four furlong pole flashed by, the the three stallions leaped forward, Sunset Crusade immediately taking the lead, with Bank On Greatness on his flank and King running behind Greatness. They galloped up to the turn and around it, then began to accelerate.

Cruze held his lead as King began to close. Bank On Greatness poured on the speed and began to inch up on his younger stablemate, who then put on a ferocious burst of speed to hold him off. Here's The King continued to gain, sprinting now as they quickly approached the wire. The three riders each urged their horses on, and it was Bank On Greatness who pushed his nose past Cruze's to win, with King taking third by a head. They slowed down gradually, and completed another lap at gallop, canter then trot to warm down. Although the outcome of the Breeder's Cup Classic and Sprint were not at all certain, each of them certainly felt ready to take the famed races on..