follow the hoofprints

CALAMITY QUEEN WORKS FOR FTH JUVENILE TURF WITH SPECTACULAR MOTION AND BLAZING KISS

Stella mounted up on Calamity Queen, then joined Olivia and Blaze who were warming Spectacular Motion and Blazing Kiss up. Queenie was feeling good, her strides were energetic and bouncy. They trotted for several minutes in silence, and then Blaze raised the question. What do you think of Queenie's chances, Stella?

Stella didn't answer right away, instead going over what she knew about the entries in her mind. The race was the Follow The Hoofprints Juvenile Turf, which was run over nine furlongs on turf. In gate one would be Livin' The Jazz, a colt by Jazzman and out of Livin' The Dream, owned by Intrepid Racing. He had a record of 7-1-5-0 and had raced just last week for second place. Next, in gate two, would be GS Royal Crown from Witch Creek stables. Like Livin' The Jazz, GS Royal Crown had run last week in the same race for fourth place. He had an overall record of 4-1-0-1.

Then there was GS Super Charged in gate three. Recently purchased by Bowen Acres, the colt hadn't raced for them yet but had a prior record of 4-1-2-0. He was by Admiral's Revenge, and out of Sonata. He would definitely be one to watch. Calamity Queen had gate four. The Touch Up x Royal Assault filly had last raced two weeks ago, where she had broken her maiden. Her overall record was 8-1-1-4, and was of course owned by Star Thoroughbreds. Finally, there was Lost In Memories from Serendipity Hills. The filly was by Memorial's Blaze, and therefore half to Blazing Kiss, and out of Blanchette. She had a record of 4-1-2-1.

All in all, the field was a decent one. Stella hoped that the horses who had raced last week wouldn't have the stamina to do two in a row, but if their trainers were careful, they could do it quite easily. She shrugged in response to Blaze's question. I think we've got a fairly equal chance as anyone else. She said simply, but with confidence. Queenie had finally gotten a taste of winning a real race, and now they would see how much she really wanted to win again. Blaze grinned back at her, but didn't say anything else. He and Olivia chatted between each other, leaving Stella with her thoughts.

As there was no front runner, Queenie would step up. She often did set the pace anyway. Then it was likely GS Royal Crown would run behind her, followed by Lost In Memories and then the two closers, GS Super Charged and Livin The Jazz. When the time came, the three fillies broke into gallop, and were held adjacent to one another. They would be running six furlongs, five furlongs together and the final furlong they would run flat out.

Three furlongs down and they entered the turn, still running nose to nose. Now was where they began to get excited, as they knew the time to really let loose was just around the corner. As the stretch straightened out before them, the riders had a difficult time trying to hold them in. Calamity Queen started to nose ahead, and Blazing Kiss quickly cottoned on and also accelerated. The final furlong couldn't come quick enough, and all three fillies put on bursts of speed as soon as they were released. Blazing Kiss was a sprinter so she went straight to the lead. Queenie aggressively thundered after her, and all too soon the furlong was done and they had to slow down. Excellent. Queenie will still be on her toes for tomorrow. Stella grinned, rubbing the filly's sweat darkened neck. She was ready to follow in her parents hoofprints.

WAR CRY WORKS FOR FTH JUVENILE DIRT WITH DYSPHORIA AND STALKER'S GLORY

Marissa grinned as she mounted up on War Cry. The spirited and very dominant Akuma Battlecry filly had been doing excellently, and she was now due to run in her fifth start in the Follow The Hoofprints Juvenile Dirt. For Marissa, the name of the race had alot of meaning. In War Cry's case, she had some great racehorses blood in her, and she had the talent to follow in their hoofprints. Her grandsire was a Triple Crown Champion. Her brother won the Kentucky Derby and the Breeder's Cup Classic last year. Another of her brothers was a top contender in this year's Triple Crown. Her dam was grade one, her sire G3 and winner of the Wood Memorial Stakes.

Beside her were two other well bred fillies, Dysphoria and Stalker's Glory. They would be working with her today, although they would not be running in any of the Follow The Hoofprints races. Stella rode Dysphoria and Blaze rode Stalker's Glory. They began with a trot to warm up, along with a cheerful discussion about the race. I think we can do it. Marissa said brightly, taking a hand off of the reins momentarily to rub her thoroughbreds's chestnut neck.

Truthfully, it wouldn't be an easy race. Xena was one of only two entrants, and both of them were front runners. It was going to be tough in that respect, so Marissa would have to play it by ear. If Sizzling Dawn, who, interestingly enough, was ridden by Marissa's arch rival Henna Turath, didn't fight them for the lead, then War Cry would be able to have her position, no problem. If Sizzling Dawn did simply have to lead the race, Marissa would attempt to hold War Cry in second place. However, the most likely scenario would be that both fillies would have a speed duel and the one with the most stamina would come out on top. Hopefully, that was War Cry. By all indications, Sizzling Dawn ran 8-11 furlongs. War Cry ran 9-12. Half of War Cry's family were front runners, and they were good at it.

For their workout today, Marissa had decided to take it easy with Xena. Just four furlongs, all out for the final two. That would work off the high spirits without tiring the filly for the race. As the four furlong pole came into plain view, Marissa prepared to gallop the filly. Beside her, Stella and Blaze did the same. They burst into gallop at the same moment, and the three riders worked to keep their noses in line. They pounded around the turn and into the straight, where they were released.

War Cry pinned her ears and accelerated, her strides lengthening and becoming more powerful with each one. Stalker's Glory was hot on her heels though, with Dysphoria thundering on at her flank. Dysphoria then began to creep up, drawing level with Gloria who bared her teeth and glared at the other filly. Dee was bred tough though, and carried on to Xena. Gloria wasn't about to give in though, and held third just a nose behind Dypshoria. War Cry still held the lead, but it was going to be close. Three, two, one.. and they were over the line. Xena had held on to finish a neck ahead of Dypshoria and Stalker's Glory, who had found a bit more power in the final moments to go nose to nose with Dee. War Cry was ready to Follow The Hoofprints.

BORN TO IMPRESS WORKS FOR FTH JUVENILE DIRT MILE

Because he'd raced just last weekend, Born To Impress would be working out in the equine swimming pool today. Sarah watched as James and Marissa lead the two year old colt to the ramp into the pool, both hands holding her baby bump. She was now six months into her pregnancy and was becoming impatient to ride again. James had said she wouldn't be able to race for probably several months after giving birth, which was quite upsetting and forced her to realise that she might never ride in a race again. Of course, she'd have to recover from birth, first of all, then lose all the baby weight to have a hope of race riding again.

Impress let out loud snorts of delight as he splashed into the heated pool. He loved swimming, especially at the beach. Marissa caught Sarah's eye and smiled. Sarah smiled back, then resumed watching closely as Impress began to swim. Swimming was an excellent alternative to galloping for racehorses. It gave them a thorough workout with minimal stress on their legs, if any. And most of the horses thoroughly enjoyed it.

Impress swam strongly, snorting now and then. The pool was circular, so he would do a few laps in one direction and then another few in the opposite direction. Marissa couldn't stop smiling. Impress was definitely one of her favourite horses. He was due to run in the Follow The Hoofprints Dirt Mile, which was a two horse field after scratchings. Aquatic Addiction was his only competition, and Marissa vaguely wondered whether he had been named after a true addiction to aquatic exercise or something.

Anyway, Aquatic Addiction had a record of 5-2-3-0 and had not raced in five weeks. He would have a slight advantage there, but that's why Impress was swimming rather than galloping this morning. Aquatic Addiction was by Shiver Me Timbers and out of GS Addicted To Love. He was owned by Silver Stride Stables and favoured position as a closer when racing. That worked out well enough for Born To Impress. He liked the preceder position, but could run anywhere, really. He had a record of 6-3-2-1, and was absolutely gunning for his grade four win.

Marissa and James lead the colt through another lap of swimming, both watching him carefully. He was still swimming strongly, and could probably swim for a while longer yet. But he'd done a few laps each way, and that was his workout done. Enough to burn excess energy, but not enough to tire him out. He'd be fresh as a daisy for race day. He was ready to follow in the hoofprints of his extensive excellent bloodline.