king me

[Ripley Marsh]

King Me
featuring: Lethal Dose & Sun King

The first impression people often had of Sun King was his immensity. The colt simply radiated it. He was a mss of chestnut hide, glowing like fire in the dead of night. He was the product of a regal combination of stamina and brilliant speed. He was quite possibly the best foal by Native Flame and he was all Witch Creek. The perfect combination of brawn and unwavering talent. Ripley ran a hand down the colt's plain face. He stood quietly with her hands on his head, his dark eyes taking her in as if they were measuring her as she was measuring him.

The pair paid no mind to Brooks as he tightened the girth, wrapped the colt's legs. For once Sun King was absolutely still and Brooks was not going to question it. Ripley simply had a connection with every horse on the property. What had looked like a desolate year because of retirement of the core four was suddenly a year wide open with possibilities. Sun King had finally cracked a win in the Holy Bull and while it hadn't been his most dominating performance, he was finally shaking off the rust of his break. He was still good enough to beat seasoned runners. Brooks could still remember the way the colt had gone from just cantering to flying in a split second. You could hardly tell how quick he was moving so easy was his running stride.

"I am in such a conundrum this year Brooks. Never would I have thought in a million years that I could have three favorites for the Kentucky Derby."

He glanced up at Ripley's words, expecting excitement and seeing only worry. "Well... Saintly Touch has the ability and mindset to go the Triple Crown distance. Casualty of War is running off the charts brilliant. And Sun King has yet to be defeated going ten furlongs."

"Yeah... now you get my problem."

"Not much of a problem. People would kill to be able to pick and choose their weapon for the Kentucky Derby. And you've got three very good ones."

"I'm down to two for the Triple Crown. I won't give up my pursuit of the Canadian Triple Crown. Casualty Of War is our best candidate ever for that series and I won't destroy his or our chances for that series."

Brooks patted her shoulder, moved her back a step to bridle the colt. Sun King took the bit quickly, giving a big yawn in the process. "See you already are done to the maximum entries. Now it's either the colt who you've been preparing for the Triple Crown for the last year and a half or the colt whose brilliance may exceed anything else running."

Ripley snorted. "Some decision. Anyway, I want a six furlong workout in 1:10 and 2/5. I'm going to go check on Lethal Dose."

Laura was already mounted up on Lethal Dose by the time Ripley found her. The bay mare looked awfully full of herself, dancing and prancing up and down the path beside the older horse barn. Lee had been a basket case since her loss in her last race. Her gallops were furious and flying. She'd outpaced anything Ripley had put her against since that last race. But she wouldn't be able to outpace Sun King going six furlongs. It would be the perfect test to move Lethal Dose into her next stage of competition. While Supernatural was holding her own against the colts and Battle Wings and Reflected In Water, Ripley was easing Lethal Dose up to that level. Laura was the perfect pilot for the scheduled attack. She knew what it took to get a horse's confidence built up and soaring so that the most difficult competition became nothing.

Lee felt like a ticking time bomb beneath Laura. Her muscles were bunched, her stance tall and proud. Her eyes were bugging out like crazy and she blew through her nose like a stud. Worked up was hardly an adequate description for the bay mare. She was ready to rock and roll. Laura knew that whenever Lee was this good, it was going to be hard to hold her back in a workout or race. Luckily, Lee had a workout partner that wouldn't take her shit.

Ripley watched the pacing horse with keen eyes. People hadn't believed her when she said she had a terrific filly lingering in the background. Horses like Paranormal Hunter, The Devil's Hourglass and Supernatural had overshadowed Lethal Dose last year. They had deserved to overshadow the filly, but by sheer talent and focus... this one took the cake. She had a nose for the wire. Lee wasn't the prettiest of the trio, but she sure was tough. She had to be to take down the likes of the fields she was currently facing.

"You're going six furlongs Laura," Ripley called. "I want 1:10. Let her roll but I want no encouragement! Understand me?" Laura flipped up a thumbs up as Sun King emerged from the three year old barn. Lee trumpeted a warning challenge, pawed the ground. Sun King barely paused. He strode by her, head in the air, in blissful disregard. Ripley shook her head, holding back laughter. What a pair.

The two thoroughbreds hit the track, Sun King assuming command. The chestnut colt was quick to step into his massive striding gallop, head down in concentration. His ears betrayed him when it came to Lethal Dose. They were locked on the Lethal Knack daughter like they never had been before. Brooks knew Sun King was taking the loud filly seriously. And when she came to him, King made sure to put on an extra spurt of speed to hold her at bay.

Laura kept her hands still at the mare's neck. Lethal Dose was already on the bit as they rolled into the clubhouse turn. She was really on the muscle and she only became more encouraged when Sun King rose to meet her challenge. Laura was standing in the saddle before the workout even began. Fighting with the mare was only going to result in her frustration. Letting her go meant possibly burning her out for her next run. With calming words, Laura settled the filly down through the first furlong of the work. By the second, Lee was well in control. She settled at Sun King's barrel, allowing the chestnut colt to have his easy lead.

Brooks was definitely feeling powerful at this point. Lethal Dose was a bloody fast filly, but she simply didn't have that extra pizazz that Sun King had. Sun King was the best horse Brooks had ever sat on, bar none. He did things that made good horses look ordinary. He moved easily over the dirt, ears pricked and focused on the track that lay before him. As they passed by the middle mark of the workout, Sun King was on cruise control. Brooks could feel energy thrumming beneath his glimmering red coat and knew the horse could go faster any time he asked.

Laura let the reins out a notch, grinned when Lee ate up the extra length of leather and moved up to King's neck. The bay horse pushed heavily on the bit and gave all the right clues that she was ready to explode. Laura leaned close to the horse's neck, smiling as Lee challenged Sun King around the turn.

King carried the filly wide, daring her to expel more energy to go with him. Brooks brought him back to the rail just before the homestretch and gave Lethal Dose a break. It was a big mistake.

Under Laura's command, the filly launched into such a stunningly fast speed that Sun King was left reeling for a couple strides. Brooks gritted his teeth, cocked back his whip and rapped the colt on his haunches. In two stunning strides, Sun King recovered and gave pursuit. In three strides, he was at Lethal Dose's right haunch, now on her outside. In four he was at her throat.

Laura was stunned by King's recovery, but Lee was not. The bay mare dropped down into a new gear, staving off the younger horse's bid for the lead. She was gritty and gutsy horse. She would not go down in surrender.

Ripley was afraid to look at the stop watch in her hand. In the viewing box, Mal was holding his breath, sharing the same fear. He couldn't look away from the time when the horses blew through the wire. Ripley stopped her watch at 1:09 flat. Mal kept his going for the gallop out. The jockeys were standing in the stirrups, reining in the duo as best they could. Mal whistled, leaned out of the viewing box. "Seven furlongs in 1:21 4/5."

Ripley shook her head at the time, not surprised in the least. The horses pulled up in the backstretch, still moving at a solid clip.

Sun King broke to a jog before Lethal Dose. The mare was still riding high from her victory. She hadn't let the younger colt by. Not even in the gallop out. Laura had never, ever been more pleased of her mare. By the time the duo reached their trainer, the horses' breathing had almost leveled out. Brooks patted King's neck, ignoring Ripley's accusatory glance. "If he doesn't go to the Derby, you'd be making a mistake Marsh."

Ripley shrugged. "Good thing I don't make mistakes often. Get them hosed off and cooled out. They'll get tomorrow off."