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BLUE ME AWAY WORKS FOR THE BELMONT TURF CLASSIC
CALAMITY QUEEN WORKS FOR THE DUCHESS STAKES

Over five weeks had passed since Blue Me Away's return to Star Thoroughbreds. The colt was performing well in workouts, and had run strongly to place second in the Preakness Champion Stakes three weeks ago. This would be the colt's final workout before the Belmont Turf Classic, the final leg of the Turf Triple Crown. Blue Me Away needed to win it to prove himself capable of running and winning at twelve furlongs. He demonstrated the ability in training but had not yet raced at that distance. There was also Bella Luna to beat - the filly had won the first two legs of the race series and they simply could not allow her to become the first Turf Triple Crown Champion.

Calamity Queen had taken the Cotillion Stakes in style, beating Fleet Majesty, Wish Upon A Star and Innocent Passion. They'd always known the filly was capable of such a feat, and now she'd stepped up and proved it. Now all she had to prove was that she could do it again by taking the Duchess Stakes, the final leg of the Turf Triple Tiara. This time, the race was ten furlongs and her competitors would be the same, except for Innocent Passion being swapped for Passion Heart. Stella rose the to the filly's trot, turning her through circles and figure eights as they waited patiently for Blue Me Away and Blaze to appear.

Blue high stepped it onto the turf track. He was, understandably, feeling good due to the effects of a healthy, high energy diet and calculated training regime. Blaze guided the colt firmly, knowing that the young thoroughbred would burst forward at the slightest release of pressure. It was a relief to be working Blue at their home track this morning. There was no media here to harass them. He would be shipped to the GHF track later on tonight, and hopefully none of the press would get wind of this and annoy the colt until race time, which was three days away.

They caught up quickly with Calamity Queen and Stella, who had trotted a little way up the track while waiting. Together the pair continued to trot, keeping their racehorses in line with firm handling. Stella began to think about the Duchess Stakes and their strategy to win it. Fleet Majesty of Stride Of Perfection Stables was entered in gate one. The filly had beaten her grade two stablemate Innocent Passion to second place in the Cotillion Stakes, which showed she had real talent despite still being grade five. She ran as a closer. Wish Upon A Star was to start from gate two. The Witch Creek Stables filly had run fourth in the Cotillion Stakes, but she was better than that. An improvement on her placing in the last race would be definite. She ran as a mid packer. Finally, there was Passion Heart. The Bowen Acres filly was the least experienced in the field and had a single win to her name, but there was no sense in counting her out. The filly had some speed and would lead the race until Queenie took over, in her preceder to leader style.

From Blue Me Away's back, Blaze was having similar thoughts. The Belmont Turf Classic would be a tough one, no doubt about it. Ode To Glory would start from gate one. He had struck out in the Preakness Champion Stakes, running third place which was also last in the tiny field. But the Stride Of Perfection Stables colt was definitely one to watch out for, especially considering he had dead heated with Blue in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile Turf last year. Ode to Glory ran as a mid packer. Next there was Italian Ice, now running for Stride of Perfection Stables, starting from gate two. The Impressario filly had given the Preakness Champion a miss and was coming off a win in last weekend's Summer Cup. She, like Blue, could run as either a front runner or a preceder. Time would tell which position her new rider would choose. Bella Luna would start from gate three. She had painted a target on her back as the winner of the Kentucky Open and Preakness Champion Stakes, and Blaze knew this didn't bode well with Stride of Perfection Stables, who usually ran very well in this series. Bella Luna ran as a stalker, so Blue would run as a front runner. He could keep out of trouble that way, set the pace he wanted.

Pushing thoughts of the race from his mind, Blaze concentrated on riding. He felt each muscle in Blue's body moving, felt each footfall on the turf track. Other than the distant sounds of other horses, Blaze could hear nothing but Blue's soft breathing and his muffled hoof beats. He turned the colt through a zig zag motion, which Blue completed enthusiastically. After a short while of trotting, Blaze allowed an inch or two of rein to slip through his fingers and Blue energetically moved on into canter. Stella and Calamity Queen kept up with them, focused on the pole where the pair of thoroughbreds would break out the gallop for a short few furlongs. The horses sensed the anticipation and began to grow more and more excitable, tugging on the reins, begging to go faster. Their canter speed increased, and they shortened the distance to the four furlong pole stride by stride.

Simultaneously, the two thoroughbreds were released into gallop. They accelerated until they were rated by their riders, and then they moved into the turn. Queenie had the rail and used it to her advantage, moving ahead slightly. As the turn straightened out into the stretch and the two furlong pole flashed by, the horses were really let loose for a final blowout before their big races. Accelerating with each stride, the pair fought fire with fire as they raced down the stretch. Blades of grass torn up by their hooves flicked up behind them as they dug in for better traction. All too soon, they were being pulled up at the finish. Neither horse had beaten the other, and they weren't happy about losing. They would be certain to put in top effort on race day. Queenie was ready to take the Duchess Stakes, and Blue was ready to slay the Belmont Turf Classic.