strike a winner

STRIKE A POSE AND IGNACIA WORK FOR THE BREEDER'S CUP FILLY AND MARE TURF

Dismounting from Ianna, Stella gave the filly one last neck rub then collected Ignacia. After she mounted the grey mare, she trotted over to where Blaze was warming up with Strike A Pose. Good morning he said, grinning. Stella grinned back. Heey she replied. They headed off up the turf track at a trot, warming up for their workout.

Strike A Pose and Ignacia were entered in the Breeder's Cup Filly and Mare Turf. It was a big field of eight, and included some of the big names like Terror Smile and Sillenia. This would be Ignacia's last race, and Stella wanted it to be a good one. But the young mare wasn't the same as last year, and Stella knew she'd peaked then. She'd been third in the BC F&M Turf. Blaze was really excited to race Strike A Pose in the Filly And Mare Turf. She'd been second in the Juvenile Fillies Turf last year under Sarah, and had raced well again this year, with six more wins to her name, bringing her career record to 33-8-7-8.

The race would definitely be a challenge. There was not only Terror Smile and Sillenia, but also Alluring Assault, Destined For Glory, Wild Kiss and Flawed Princess. Terror Smile had drawn gate one. The Triple Krown Racing filly had had an excellent season, and would certainly be one to beat. She'd won six of nine races this year and was on the verge of grade three. Intrepid Racing's Alluring Assault had made a comeback recently after over a year off. Unfortunately for the grade three filly, she hadn't won yet.

Next was grade three mare Destined For Glory. She hadn't won in a long time, and therefore wasn't being considered much of a threat. Wild Kiss of SOPS had drawn gate four, and the filly appeared to have a serious case of seconditis. Her overall record was 25-5-10-5, with seven of those second places coming from the current season. The grade four filly was possibly a threat. Next came Sillenia. The four year old mare was grade one as of her last win, and excelled on the turf. She was the winner of this race last year, and could go in the favourite this year, if Terror Smile did not.

Next was STBS bred Flawed Princess. She'd been sold earlier in the year to Silver Stride Stables, who had managed to squeeze another two wins out of the four year old. Despite their efforts, she would most likely be a long shot. As for Strike A Pose and Ignacia, Poser would be going in one of the favourites to win following her awesome winning streak that took her from grade five to grade three. Ignacia was another long shot.

As for how the race would play out, it looked to be in the front runners and preceders favour. The field was dominated by five closers - Terror Smile was a front runner, Flawed Princess and Strike A Pose were preceders. The closers would probably get in each other's way in the stretch, whereas the way would be clear for Smile, Princess and Poser.

As they'd been instructed, the pair urged their horses on into gallop at the four furlong pole. Clumps of grass and dirt flew up behind them as the two fillies dug in and accelerated. They rounded the turn quickly, and then accelerated again, this time to top speed in the stretch. Strike A Pose pulled away quickly, beating Ignacia by more than a length. Stella sighed. Maybe she should get Ignacia scratched.. Either way Strike A Pose was ready to run and maybe win in the F&M Turf.