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[Ripley Marsh]

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featuring: Wishing For A Heroine

Wishing For A Heroine was a firecracker to say the least. While not necessarily always pleasing to deal with, Heroine sure kept things alive and crazy. Laura cringed as the mare tap danced on her hind legs over the gravel. Brooks stood at the end of the line, staring up at the euphoric horse. The mare's eyes blazed with excitement and hotness. She'd always been a hotter creature than Taboo and Wish Upon A Star. She could be too much of a handful and that was why Brooks had taken the filly out for a brief lesson on the lunge line. Obviously her lesson wasn't quite learned just yet.

The filly snorted, hitting the ground with a clang. Brooks backed out of the bay's way as she twirled around him. He looked like he was dancing with a whirling dervish. Laura snickered as Heroine tapped her way backward on the line away from the now waving human. Better Brooks than her. Heroine gave her enough to handle in actual workouts. Especially because she was flying high after some pretty good finishes. Her confidence was overwhelming. She was the opposite of the usual sulky horses.

"Whoa little girl. Enough of this nonsense." The tone of Brooks' voice was low and crooning. He halted in his tracks, lowered his hands and eyes. Heroine halted, her eyes locked on the man. She still breathed excitedly, but her hooves were still and that's all Brooks wanted. With careful, non-threatening steps, Brooks approached the horse. Heroine whuffled her lips over his hands, snorting at the scent of the stallions. Al had needed assistance with bringing in Touch Up and Sweeto Cheeto.

"I know. Those big males stink. I can hardly take it myself."

He rubbed the filly's sleek dark neck, appreciating the innate gentleness in her eyes. So she was a little nutty. That was nothing compared to a horse attempting to bite your hand off or charge you because you chose that moment to wake them up out of their beauty rest. He rolled his eyes thinking of Enrapture and Notorious. The filly he loved dearly. The colt he respected, but it was hardly love that made his heart beat faster.

"Alright Laura. I think she's all set for you."

Brooks boosted the woman into the saddle, shaking his head when Wishing For A Heroine danced away from him. The Everyday Hero daughter was a silly a thing, but she had tremendous talent. She'd won the Kentucky Oaks, had slipped away with a leg of the Sprinter Tiara. Now she was making another roundabout turn toward turfer. She could do it. Both Wish Upon A Star and Taboo, her half-sisters on Everyday Hero's side, had both switched from dirt to turf with relative ease. Heroine had stolen a turf race this year and was on track to hit grade one in a matter of starts. She was a special mare and Ripley was determined to get the public interested in her career change.

Laura felt the sudden power that rolled under Heroine's delicate hide. She was a perfect filly in every possible way. She was good natured. She was brave. She could fight and battle with a horse twice her size and come out with a win. Heroine was a terrific filly through and through. It was an honor for Laura to ride her and bring her to her best. Laura patted the mare's neck as Brooks unclipped the lead rope.

"I want a three furlong workout. Make it quick and run her through the line."

He watched the horse break into a gallop before calling over his headset. "She's on her way."

Ripley nodded to Mal and walked to the viewing window with the young horse trainer. Heroine was ready to roll.

Laura let the mare kick on up the first hill without much restraint. The lean runner really had such a nice gallop stride. She seemed to float over the turf, taking great breaths at the top of the hill and running with a full head of steam through the valleys. Her dished face was cocked slightly to the left, her eye taking in the land before her. The filly snorted as she realized she was all alone, but she didn't get lazy. She ran faster in her excitement.

Laura finally reined the filly in as she hit the last couple valleys. Heroine didn't fight. She merely slowed her stride, ears pricking in wonder. Laura patted the bay's neck, delighting when she steadied right down and waited patiently for Laura' cue. The fact that Heroine could do this was more important than her ability to handle both surfaces. A good horse became stellar when they listened to their rider's commands. It was that ability that had allowed Mastermind to become such a legend on the track.

Laura leaned close as the filly flew up the final hill. She was well in control and she even would have paused if Laura asked her to at the crest. With a little chirp, Laura sent Heroine on, grinning as the filly descended the hill with such seriousness in her eyes. She was a game thing this one.

At the base of the hill, Heroine shot off like a cannon. Her legs flew beneath her, hooves barely skimming the ground before they were off again. Laura crouched low, kept her hands still. Heroine was riding a wave of her own eagerness. She flew without restraint, with unrivaled joy. Her mane whipped Laura's face, but Laura barely felt the pain. She was locked in ecstasy as Heroine creamed the fractions with devastating ease.

Mal and Ripley were both smiling as Heroine hit that last furlong, ears pricked and well within herself. Laura kept her going up the gallop out hill. The Everyday Hero daughter pinned her ears and kept going like it was an everyday thing. Mal gave Ripley a high-five. "She sure is a thing of beauty to watch."

"She'll be even more beautiful in the winner's circle on race day."