you've got nerve

[Ripley Marsh]

You've Got Nerve
featuring: Optimus Unstoppable, Nirvana

Laura moseyed through the barn, her arms laden with tack and her hands carrying an overflowing grooming box. Her blue eyes were sparking with excitement. Two of her horses were going to be in a workout together. Her filly, the underdog filly with relatively unproven lines, had finished third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, but had come up smelling like roses at the award ceremony. It had shocked Laura immensely to hear Nirvana's name leave the announcer's lips. Her pride and joy, her sweetheart had beaten out the likes of Call Me Crooked and Shenanigans. And then Ripley had sent her to accept the award. It had the scariest and most awesome day of her life. She'd taken three mares to grade one in two years, but had not received an award. This was as much an award for Nirvana as it was for her. Laura grinned into the face of the unsuspecting hero.

Vana nickered lovingly as Laura dumped her gear beside the polished filly. Turning three definitely agreed with Vana. She'd filled out nicely, looked more muscular than she had as a two year old. Big things awaited Nirvana. The Triple Tiara was beckoning the filly and for the first time Witch Creek would be going into the three year old series with a possible favorite. They had a big job to do because Vana had been picking up places and shows, but no wins. Shenanigans was the big threat, but Vana had grown in her time off since the Breeders' Cup. The Two Year Old Filly Champion was not going to go down waving a flag of surrender. Laura patted the filly's neck, began tacking her up when Ripley emerged from her office and left for the older horse barn.

Brooks grinned when Ripley entered the barn. She was so cute when she was irritated. A furrow was settled between her flashing eyes and her body movement was jerky. "What's up?" Brooks asked innocently as he brushed out Optimus' tail. The stallion tilted his head, wiggled his lips when Ripley approached. The woman typically carried mints for the handsome bay stallion. He sighed when she only gave him a pat, aimed a reproachful look her way. "Nothing except I can't find a race for Sun King anywhere. He's a powder keg. I'm going to have to work him by himself next out because he's going to blow up."

"You mean I'm going to have to work him by himself. And he is a powder keg." Brooks couldn't believe how strong the chestnut horse had gotten from two to three. His gallops had been incredible. It was scary to think that he could possibly get any better from his 10 win season last year. Brooks shrugged, checked Optimus over one last time. "But if we have to work him again, so be it. Not going to be as nice as a race, but he's talented enough and he won't be short."

"Nope," Ripley replied. She finally held out a mint to a very grateful Optimus. The handsome horse tossed his head, eyes rolling in enjoyment. She was very fond of the Shiver Me Timber's son. He was another one sitting on a big year. He just needed some build up to get going. "Send them both for a five furlong workout. Don't let them check up for another furlong though. I want a 1:14-:15 end time. Target 1:00 for the five. I expect they'll go a little faster and that's fine."

Brooks swung up into the saddle, held a hand out to Ripley. "You got it, boss."

Ripley led Optimus out of the barn, grinning when he quivered with excitement. The horse snorted, bowing his neck and took up an excitable prance. He snorted when Nirvana emerged from the three year old barn, her ears pricking. She nickered, but obeyed Laura's command to turn down the dirt path. Optimus followed, flipping his upper lip to investigate her scent. Ripley poked the stallion, keeping a firm hand on his lead rope. Optimus was just a little too studly these days, but he'd gotten faster so there was some bonus to this new attitude. He was still a relatively docile stud compared to In Front.

Ripley turned the stallion loose at the track, leaned against the rail as Brook gave Laura the directions.

The young woman gave Vana her head, grinned at the first couple of plodding steps. Nirvana was not the quickest horse off of the mark, but when she took to her full stride there was not a more comfortable horse to ride. Optimus bolted into his hand-gallop, fighting Brooks' grip on the reins. He was a full horse with a full attitude. The lean sprinting machine flew by Vana, strides quicker and fiercer. He tucked his chin neatly to his chest, a result of the steady grip and his willful nature. While there were higher graded horses in the sprinting ranks, very few had this outright talent and speed. Optimus was still relatively untested compared to some. Brooks knew Laura expected a big year for the bay horse.

Vana quickened into the far turn, finally getting herself together. Her ears flipped above her head as she cruised along at a powerful gallop. Laura sat patiently at the filly's withers, confident as all get out. Vana had an easy going way to her but the horse could fly when prodded. Her closing rush was nowhere near as powerful as the turf horses, but she could outkick the best over the dirt. Laura patted the horse's neck as the filly cut into Optimus' lead of three lengths.

Brooks didn't need to know that Nirvana would be grinding away at Optimus' lead the entire five furlong jaunt. He'd ridden her a couple of times to know that she was the determined type. She'd chip away until the homestretch before she was turned loose. Brooks leaned close to Optimus' neck, kept his hands still as the horse cut through the first two furlongs of the workout. His mane beat Brooks' face, leaving it red marked and numb. Brooks could have cared less. There was nothing like riding this fleet footed animal. He'd given up the mount on Optimus, but he still enjoyed the sprinting machine.

Laura appreciated Optimus from a length behind now. Three furlongs to go and Vana was already at him. It was going to make for an interesting homestretch battle. Optimus was gutty and Vana was courageous. Laura moved her hands up the filly's neck, sent her forward heading into the turn. She fanned a little wide on the turn, but more than made up for it at the start of the stretch. Her legs swallowed the ground impressively as she took up pursuit. Optimus had gotten back a length, but Laura knew it wouldn't matter in a few seconds.

Brooks kept his hands still on the stallion's neck as the two year old champ came back like a brawler. Optimus pinned his ears and kicked on, stubbornly holding sway in the face of her charge. Vana looked just as fierce, stretching her body out to its greatest advantage. With fury, the three year old reached Optimus' head with three hundred yards to go. Optimus snorted in frustration, his affection for the filly gone. The pair dove for the wire, stride for impressive stride.

It was too close to call. The horses continued on through the gallop out which was just as impressive as the final three furlongs. Ripley was smiling as the horses hit 1:14. The five furlongs had been 59.98. They had slowed a little, but there was no doubt she'd have her horses wound up tight for their first starts of Year Fifteen.