rob them blind

[Ripley Marsh]

Rob Them Blind
featuring: The Devil's Hourglass, In Front and Vagabond

Maggie leaned into Vagabond's solid frame. Her body was tired after the 24 hours with very little sleep. It'd been a long week of workouts and care-taking and it had culminated in Fiery Touch giving birth to a GS Judgement filly at 3:30 this morning. Her co workmates, Justin and David, had gone back to bed, but Maggie just couldn't see the point. A cat nap would surely gift her with an unwelcome headache. Tiredness was easy compared to a headache. She opened her blue eyes when Bond let out a soft nicker of greeting. The Winged Heir colt was one of the nicest animals to work with when he didn't have his game face on. He wasn't the type to rip your arm off or shoot death glares at every chance he got. Bond was as good a pillow as he was a racehorse. He was her Michael Jordan. Most people would scoff at that because Paranormal Hunter had been regarded as the best horse Maggie had ridden. And in many ways she had. But Vagabond was different. He was a partner that could make moves throughout a race and he depended on Maggie's cues. Para had been a heart stopping runner. The type that made her move at exactly the right moment and caused her rider to pray that she got to the line first.

Ripley watched the pair, her body shadowy due to the bright sunlight backing her. Her jacket hung open around her swollen belly. She was hotter than heck even though it was only 55 degrees out at seven in the morning. She thanked God that she wouldn't have to carry this baby through summer. April was her due date and she was going to stick to that schedule as rigorously as her horses' training schedules. "Reynolds you look more exhausted than me. That's saying something."

Maggie snickered. "I've tried so hard to beat you in something. Glad I finally succeeded."

Ripley grinned and moved into the barn, peeking over stalls every so often to check on water. Most of the three year olds were out exercising or, as Sun King and Saint were, hot walking in the exerciser. "Just one more workout and you'll be released from your duties. I'll have Kendall gallop Danny and Josephine. I'm having you guys work the usual though we're only galloping a mile and a quarter today. They'll be pretty sharp going into their first starts. Stamina is key. No flying workout over the flat today. I want everyone to finish on near even terms."

"Hey, you don't have to tell me twice. Tell Carter he can't turn In Front loose and Justin to hold Hourglass back. If I recall, you weren't very good at keeping on even terms when you worked Hourglass." Ripley rolled her eyes. "Trust me I know. But Justin's going to have to rein her in a little. If she doesn't do it in her races, then she doesn't do it here."

Justin was having a similar talk with the delinquent herself. The Devil's Hourglass, muscular bay body and all, stood with her soft eyes following Justin as he ran a brush over her. The Sand Storm mare had filled out nicely since her three year old season and had been training like a fiend of late. It was in his opinion that perhaps there was more to her than originally met the eye. He knew Ripley's long range goal was to send the tough mare to the Breeders' Cup Turf and following a similar line as her juvenile season. For some reason, the lights seemed to kick on in Hourglass' head when she faced the boys. She was quick enough, durable enough, bold enough to take them on and beat them. They seemed to stir her up just enough, anger her just enough for impressive driving finishes. The plan was to take her out of her comfort zone, tick her off and make her close behind In Front and Vagabond.

David Carter could tell In Front was keeping one eye on Hourglass. His body may have looked all relaxed, hoof cocked and ears lazing to the side, but David knew better. In Front was keeping a watchful look out of Hourglass. The bay mare had been sending darts all day at the large bay stallion. In Front didn't cower beneath stallion eyes... but Hourglass... She seemed to scare the living hell out of the Touch Up son. Everyone seemed to have that one family relation. David patted the big horse sympathetically as he gave him the final once over. "You look good buddy. Don't let that girl get to you."

In Front cocked his head, enjoying the now itching fingers. David hummed and itched harder, appreciating the big horse's reaction. In Front was an intense horse on the track and out in his paddock. He spent half his time irritating his sire Touch Up and the other half of his time running David ragged. There was no doubt in David's mind that the big horse was going to have an impressive year. His last win in Year Fourteen had been resounding. Second off the layoff had proven the charm for In Front and now he was coming into his older horse campaign on a high note.

Both guys looked up at the tap on the barn door. Brooks called down the hall, "Ready when you two are!"

Maggie allowed Vagabond to stretch his long legs off of the beaten path, finding that the colt was most relaxed when pushed into work. He nickered in greeting when the older horses emerged from the barn, ears pricking when In Front returned a commanding neigh. The older horse stomped his hooves fiercely, prompting Brooks to snag his bridle before he made a break for the younger horse. Bond cocked his head to the side, analyzing the situation, but stood squarely facing him down. Bond was no coward.

Hourglass passed by the insulted in Front, beyond the defensive Vagabond. She strolled right through the war zone with her head held high and her tail aloft. Justin was smirking as the bay mare proceeded into her canter toward the turf track, leaving the disgruntled males to settle their bickering. His girl had business on the brain and she was not going to be distracted. Brooks and Ripley flashed by on the golf cart, leaving Justin to deal with his petulant mare. And she would be petulant. The bay simply hated being left behind in a workout. Justin prepared himself as both In Front and Vagabond hand galloped by, both set of ears pricked and eyes wide with excitement. Hourglass tossed her head, eyes blazing when Justin refused to release her. Saliva landed on Justin's pants, reflected there angrily amid all the black. Justin gritted his teeth, let the mare out a notch and braced himself for the lurch.

David Carter heard the flurry of angry hooves and knew Justin had released the dragon. Hourglass was going to be pitching a fit from start to finish. In Front's ears flickered uneasily, clearly well aware of the bay mare's position. He must have had his butt handed to him by her in order to have such fear of her. David let the horse ease into his massive, let him run up the hill with verve. In Front had a smooth way of going, a long effortless stride. He was a heavy horse and a grinder in possession of high cruising speed. It was an odd combination, but David was sure that was what had allowed In Front to be successful early in his three year old season. It was back. The horse was running confidently on the lead, unmatched by Vagabond.

Maggie let Vagabond get into his rocking horse stride over the hills and valleys. The bay colt moved easily over the grass, so naturally it was hard to imagine that he could run just as effectively over the dirt. His versatility would make him a very fun horse down the road. He kept his head down when he ran, his hind legs pushing him powerfully over the course. He seemed to not care what The Devil's Hourglass was doing. She was making a huge racket back there, snorting and pounding the ground with furious hooves. Maggie peeked back under her arm, noted the mare's presence three lengths back.

He had his hands full of horse by the final hill. She'd been tracking the males with a fury from the get-go, her ears pinned and nostrils flared like saucers. She charged up the hill, closing the lengths with impressive strides. Vagabond bared his teeth, stunning Maggie, when Hourglass drew up to his side. As a pair, the horses marched down the hill, ready to give chase to In Front.

Carter felt the angered presence and didn't bother to turn around and acknowledge it. He set the stallion down for the drive, showing the horse his whip, but not touching him. In Front gave a groan, but responded with a furious kick, legs sweeping beneath him and covering the grass. The turn of foot shook David up for he hadn't been expecting such a fierce rally from the Touch Up horse. Was this yet another dimension of the older, better, more mature In Front?

Ripley and Brooks seemed to think so and Brooks hummed in approval. "Think he's finally going to start living up to his billing on the grass?" Ripley smiled, but didn't answer. She watched the trio with bright eyes. There was more where that came from.

Justin released Hourglass because she gave him no choice. She'd ducked her head the moment she hit the flat and stole the reins nearly from his hands. Without his gloves, Justin would have been screaming in pain from the burn. The mare stunned Vagabond briefly as she surged after In Front. Maggie shook the reins and sent him in pursuit. His response wasn't as staggering, but he did visually grow taller and move into stride. He was no longer losing ground to either horse. Five lengths separated him from In Front and the assaulting Hourglass. She'd already caught up to In Front and now the family relations were dueling to the line with a furlong and a half to go.

Vagabond was hustling beneath Maggie now, his strides coming in sweeping strokes over the grass. She leaned low over his withers as he knocked off the gap between himself and the pair before him. Now two lengths behind, Vagabond switched to In Front's right side on direction from Maggie. She wasn't going to encourage The Devil's Hourglass to dig deeper and fight harder. She would test In Front's resolve before she took on the immovable mare.

Locked between horses, In Front fought fiercely as Vagabond ran to his neck and then his head. Justin had long since gone silent on Hourglass' back. She'd been ferocious through the lane and Justin was smiling as she crossed the line head to head with the two males. She was coming back with a vengeance. Vagabond and In Front would be looking to continue their recent success. Perhaps Witch Creek would be having a great year yet in Year Fifteen.