hidden pride

[Ripley Marsh]

Hidden Pride
featuring: Spotlight Pride, Taboo & Divided Notion

Kendall's gray eyes flickered with nervous excitement as she took in the gray filly before her. Everyday Hero and Forbidden Wings had thrown a gorgeous filly, elegant and graceful with a unique amber eye. She'd finished third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, surprising her connections with a game bid at a distance she didn't seem to prefer. Her relationship to Wishing For A Heroine, Forbidden To Fly and Pegasus Wings seemed to indicate that the filly wanted less distance. She just couldn't seem to hang with long running ladies, but a sprinter's distance... Now that was an idea. She was naturally off the pace and with the speed balls out there... well there was more than one advantage to cutting Taboo back. Kendall played Reese's words over and over in her head because Kendall would not be playing second fiddle for at least today.

Ever since Justin had pulled that shot of her being only help, Kendall had been on a war path in her gallops. Ever horse she galloped had seemed to pick up the ferocity Kendall carried with her and had been turning in jaw dropping gallops. From Taboo to Enrapture and Saintly Touch to Casualty of War. Kendall had caught Ripley's eye immediately as a horse sympathetic and then as a galloper. She'd been working with Witch Creek for a couple years now and finally Ripley was seeing the confidence necessary to be an elite exercise rider.

Kendall had dreams to be a jockey. So many people doubted her. Justin, Brooks, Malcolm, her parents, Maggie. Reese and Laura had supported her from the beginning. Ripley never mentioned it, but she was the first to toss Kendall on the retired racers such as Cold Mountain and Jabberwock. Last month Kendall had felt the fury of The Devil's Touch, the stunning late speed of Royal Assault. The two broodmares had been retired for long enough and needed the work. There were plans for Royal Assault to be retrained as a dressage prospect and The Devil's Hourglass for a show jumper. Ripley had put out an add on the mares, looking for prospective riders.

Today would officially be the first time Kendall got to ride in a workout. She would have company, babysitters as she liked to think, in Reese and David. Reese was tacking up Spotlight Pride down the hall, her hands moving deftly and without much thought. She did everything effortlessly, the natural. Kendall aspired to ride like Reese, quiet and patient, a master with her mental stopwatch. Reese didn't acknowledge Kendall's curious eyes, knowing the girl learned when she watched. She was too shy to ask questions, despite the fact that she had been here so long. Reese had never been the shy quiet girl in school. She'd been nosier than heck, interested in everything her parents did, the teachers said. She'd been the kid to question everything, the one that had always had too much spine.

Her spine bolstered Spotlight Pride at the time. The athletic ruby red horse had grown so much from the beginning of his two year old season to the end. The DeathFlash's Pride colt had gone from being a scared running fool to a fierce fighter in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. He'd fought tooth and nail versus Take Flight, proving beyond a doubt that even against the best he could get those nine furlongs. Reese planned to go one more. She wanted to get Pride into the Kentucky Open, a race Witch Creek had already won twice with Frozen Motion and Bella Luna. Reese was confident that she could get the flashy colt to ten furlongs. His half-sister had just beaten Bella Luna, a nearly unbeatable mare, in the Breeders' Cup Turf. It could be done and they would go down fighting just as they had in the Juvenile Turf.

Kendall tightened the girth up, looked over the gorgeous filly for any messed up or broken tack. The lean horse danced around, nostrils flaring excitedly as Spotlight Pride half reared at the end of the reins. Kendall hushed the filly, unsnapped the cross ties and turned the filly away from the excited colt. Kendall patted the filly's neck, glanced up when Ripley stepped out of the office, clipboard in hand. "You can hop up Kendall. Just waiting on David." Kendall nodded, a smile gracing her lips as she led Taboo to the mounting block. Tabz glanced over her shoulder, keeping one eye and ear on the chestnut horse. Kendall gathered the reins, turned the filly's focus back to her. Tabz twitched as Kendall swung a leg over the filly's back, but didn't move until her rider was settled in. Ripley nodded in approval, called to Reese. "You can get up now."

David Carter turned Divided Notion in a circle outside of the barn, keeping the horse on alert after he'd nearly fallen asleep. Demi was an easy going horse, something that wasn't easy to locate at Witch Creek Stable. He slept during grooming, he slumbered in his stall at the racetrack and at home. He was by all means the laziest horse on the property, but David remembered what it was like to ride the FS Dead Letter stallion in a race. He had been crazy responsive, had broken from the gate like a rocket. The handsome horse had run so extremely well, looked like a winner until the stretch when he'd gotten slightly tired. He'd battled gamely enough to hold off Lookin' Back lucky, but not Grey's Wisdom. Ever since, the horse seemed to have trimmed up, muscle had turned to fat. He looked strong and healthier than before that race two weeks ago. His gallops had been filled with more try. There was no doubt the bay was coming into form. Today would further Demi's return to racing. They had a tough race coming up, but David knew the horse better. Demi was a war horse. He was brave. He would punch his way through the smallest holes, kick on despite being five wide on the turn. David liked this horse a lot.

Demi nickered as Spotlight Pride and Taboo emerged from the barn. Pride snorted and Taboo gave no response to the friendly gesture. David patted the horse's neck, "Sorry boy, but they're snobs. They don't know what they're missing." David's dark eyes passed over Ripley as she stepped out from behind the newly turned three year olds. She smiled up at him, took in Divided Notion. "At least there's one other friendly face in the morning."

She tapped her foot in the puddle, thrilling at Taboo when the gray filly ducked her head down and snorted at the flying droplets. At one time, Taboo would have joined Spotlight Pride on the list of crazies. She would have been set off by an unexpected movement, a fly landing on her haunches. Now she was just a curious girl looking to get in on the fun. "Not expecting anything super crazy fast today for Tabz and Pride. First start back and final major workout. They're precocious enough to do some damage when they get back to running. So whatever you feel they are comfortable doing, do it.

"I want Demi to work a little harder. Keep him up at Pride's haunches and let him get something out of the workout. He's got a tough race, but he has some racing form that others in there do not. I want him working the final three around :37 and change. He'll probably outrun Pride and Tabz, but I know they'll make him work for it." Ripley tucked her clipboard in her coat, rubbed her round belly unconsciously. "I'll meet you all at the flat."

Reese let Spotlight Pride skip into his effortless canter over the turf. He carried his head and tail high, white rimmed eyes filling with unbelievable excitement. Reese could feel the wild rush coursing through the red horse's veins. Pride, like Cross, had always seemed to enjoy running just for the sake of running. Others you had to fire up with competition, but Pride just did it because he loved it. He'd run a race by himself and break records doing it. He'd had a reputation for blazing speed in his early juvenile season, running horses off of their hooves left and right. That wildness still lingered within the colt and Reese knew she could tap into that advantage in a field with very little speed. That speed would be a tactical advantage in the longer distances, but it could no longer be blazing fast and reckless.

Demi trucked up alongside Spotlight Pride, his long legs swallowing the ground between them. He was a sea of professionalism and he moved as if he knew himself to be better than these three year olds. David wasn't going to let him continue to believe that though. When you underestimated your opponents, you lost. The man tucked in at the bay's withers, eyes forward as the first hill rounded up before him. He knew Taboo was behind them somewhere, knew Spotlight Pride was likely going to be the toughest in the set to beat. Tabz wasn't made for the gut-wrenching stamina inducing runs. She was a shortie with impressive speed.

Kendall kept her hands light on the reins, letting the gray filly lull herself into an easy stride. Tabz was such a talented horse. She had scary speed that people tended to forget about, but Kendall could feel it brewing within. Taboo moved with grace and elegance, stretching only when asked for it. She easily covered the hill, careful to stay three lengths behind Spotlight Pride and Divided Notion. She was a lightweight filly, not meant for tussling these types of boys. She had intelligence and knew that their speed and raw physicality could bring her down. Cleverness was how you beat these horses.

Spotlight Pride and Reese maintained a sharp lead over Divided Notion. The long legged three year old had surprised Divided Notion in the valley when the bay had tried to reel him in. Demi had pinned his ears in ill temper when Pride bounded away with so much ease. David had smirked, glad that Demi had realized this wouldn't be so easy after all. Ever since, a black cloud seemed to consume the FS Dead Letter stud. He galloped ominously along Pride's outside, ears pinned. David had not let him come over onto the younger horse like he wanted. Pride would bury them if Demi attempted to crowd him. The workout plan would be moot after that.

Reese could feel the negative energy wafting off of Demi as Pride led the way up the final hill before the three furlong flat. She peeked back, searching for Taboo and saw Kendall riding the gray quite confidently four lengths back. Reese wondered if the filly was going to get a lot out of this workout staying so far back, but there was still the flat to go. If Demi's mood was any indication, a storm awaited both Pride and Taboo.

Kendall felt like she was riding in the captain's seat behind the two males. Taboo was cruising and when the males passed down the hill, she seemed to rev up. The sleek gray topped the crest of the hill, ears pricked and eyes wide as the boys raced down the hillside. Kendall let her have her head, smiled as the filly picked her way down the hillside with smart strides. The colts were already hitting the flat as Taboo hit the three quarter mark on the hill.

Spotlight Pride and Divided Notion hurtled off of the hill and into the flat impressively. Ripley had her eyes locked on the colts through the binoculars, nodding in approval when David pushed Demi up to challenge Spotlight Pride from the get-go. The chestnut colt wasn't cowing by any means and Reese was still sitting relatively chilly on the ruby colored colt. The change in the DeathFlash's Pride colt still impressed Ripley to no end. Demi hounded the chestnut, muscular body overpowering the lithe Pride physically. Reese and David were crouched low over the horses' backs, hands quiet.

Kendall guided outside of Pride, biding her time. Taboo was tactical enough to stay three lengths back, but Kendall could tell she wanted to run them down. Her whole body quivered with anticipation, mouth moving excitedly around the bit. It was enlightening to find this much horse at the end. Kendall's gray eyes flashed as Demi appeared to take over the lead from Spotlight Pride. Pride's ears slapped down and he quickened, briefly putting himself head and head with Demi.

Reese practically flinched as a horse rushed up to her left side, causing Pride to run into Demi in shock. The woman looked over moodily, stilled in shock when Taboo surged up to run with Pride and Demi. The sleek filly was running like a fool, head high and tail up. Ensconced on both sides, Pride battled back gamely through the middle, not even ducking when Divided Notion closed in with fury.

David could feel the fury within in Divided Notion as not one, but two of the young horses challenged him. With a muffled grunt, the older horse stepped into a new gear, displaying his wealth of talent, and drew to the victory by a half-length. He crossed through the line, ears pricked and eyes alight with fire.

Kendall collected Taboo up once the gray filly hit the hillside, grinning in delight. Reese bumped her gloved fist against Kendall's, feeling her own body fill with pride. That first rush was only just the beginning.