vindictive ianna

SILVERIANNA AND VINDICTIVE FURY WORK FOR THE BREEDER'S CUP LADIES CLASSIC

Since she wouldn't be riding for about 45 minutes, Stella walked King back up to the stables where she was met by a groom, then headed to Silverianna's stall. The three year old grey filly looked at her with dark, expressive eyes, and let out a soft whinny. Stella smiled and let herself into the stall, carrying Ianna's grooming kit. hello darling. The Bank On Silver filly eagerly checked her pockets, and sniffed out a piece of apple. Stella laughed. Okay, okay. I was going to save that for after we worked out but I guess you can have it now. She dug out the apple and held it out to the horse, who gobbled it down quickly.

Stella then got to work with brushing the filly. She had been clipped, so Stella first had to remove her stable rug. Good girl Stella reassured her as she removed the rug from the filly's back. So, we're working with Vindictive Fury again today. I know she's a meanie, and she's really fast, but I think you can take her. Stella said conversationally to the thoroughbred, who listened with both ears, although she looked out the doors where other people and horses walked by every few minutes. Vindictive Fury was across the isle, stamping her hoof every now and then, demanding to be let out of the box.

After about twenty minutes, the groom who took King from Stella returned him to his stall looking pampered and relaxed. Vindictive Fury snorted loudly, pawing at her stall door. The groom sighed and clipped her leadrope on, holding it firmly right under her chin as he lead her out. The five year old mare sidestepped and tried to turn circles around him, but the guy was used to handling her and just stopped and waited until she got her act together, then continued to one of the small yards outside the barn.

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A short while later, Stella swung up onto Ianna's back, and walked her down to the dirt track. They passed Vindictive Fury on their way, who was giving her groom some attitude. She wasn't tacked up yet, so Stella guessed she and Ianna would begin their warm up on their own. Marissa and Sarah had just finished their workout with Euphorion and Furious Passion. Passion was having a tanty like his sister, and kept tossing his head and trying to get away as Marissa trotted him in circles that were more like zig zags. Where's Vinny? She asked. Coming, she's just getting saddled. Stella replied.

Sarah smiled at Stella, and left the track with Euphorion. She didn't have to ride until Indian Delight's workout, and decided to go and spend some time with the colt. Marissa followed impatiently to get Vinny. Stella shrugged and started trotting Ianna in circles and figure eights on the dirt track while they waited. After another five minutes, Marissa and her temperamental mare Vindictive Fury showed up, and they started to warm up together.

The pair were entered in the Breeder's Cup Ladies Classic. There were just two entries besides Ianna and Vinny, and they were Dark Sunrise and Fire Dancer. Afterglow had also been entered, but was switched to the Filly and Mare Sprint shortly after STBS entered, her owner saying that she wasn't quite up to facing Vindictive Fury. It was disappointing, because Stella had been looking forward to racing Afterglow again after the filly had narrowly beaten them in the Juvenile Fillies last year. Oh well. To beat Vindictive Fury and the other fillies in the race would be satisfying anyway.. Stella grinned at the thought.

Dark Sunrise was the dark horse in the race. She'd come from nowhere to beat them and win the Dubai Filly Cup last month, a win that had upgraded her to grade one. It was not completely surprising, however. She was after all sired by True Enough, making her the half sister of not one but two Breeder's Cup Classic winners and a HOF Inductee. The four year old mare currently had a record of 45-13-10-5. Fire Dancer was the long shot. She was three years old, like Ianna, and had a record of 29-4-8-11.

Vindictive Fury was the favourite. The five year old mare had had an incredible season, winning ten of thirteen starts. She'd narrowly lost in the Dubai Filly Cup and again in the Dubai World Cup, and was extremely annoyed about it. She would not go down without a real battle in the Ladies Classic. Silverianna was likely the second favourite. Although not as high graded yet as Dark Sunrise, the three year old filly was the winner of seven races this year, including two legs of the Triple Tiara. It was in her blood to win a Breeder's Cup race, and Stella was especially determined to do so when remembering how close the Juvenile Fillies had been last year.

As the moved on into canter, the two riders thought about their strategy for the race. Marissa planned for Vinny to lead wire to wire, like always. Silverianna and Stella would stay close behind her the whole way, until they made their bid for the win in the stretch. Fire Dancer liked mid pack, so she'd probably run with Ianna or behind her. Dark Sunrise was a closer, so she'd be bringing up the rear. Basically, they'd try to stay in first and second until the end, where they hoped either of their fillies would take the win and the other the place.

As instructed, they switched to gallop at the four furlong pole. Vindictive Fury quickly took the lead, pulling ahead of Ianna rapidly. Ianna dug in too, and Vinny got just a length ahead. They rounded the turn and Ianna moved up to her stablemate's flank. As the turn straightened out and the stretch appeared before them, the fillies again accelerated. Ianna kept up with Vinny, but she couldn't quite get enough speed up to pass the older mare, who held her off by a half length. Nevermind Ianna. We'll get her in the race.. Stella said, slapping Marissa a high five. Marissa grinned, congratulating her mare with a rub on the neck. You go girl! They were ready for the Ladies Classic.