show your ambition

[Ripley Marsh]

show your ambition
featuring: Spotlight Pride & Taboo

Reese kept a keen eye on Brian as he worked around Taboo. The mottled gray filly looked calm as the Irishman worked around her, his hands soothing despite their efficiency. He was a quick groomer, but the filly looked no less perfect than Reese's sparkling colt. Reese was becoming quickly overburdened with mounts and it was hoped that perhaps Brian could take over. It was a week later since his first work aboard Escape Artist and he'd settled in just fine. She liked him with his humor and ability to lighten up any situation. Sometimes all the estrogen around the barn could take on a depressive feel, but not with him here. He hung around with Maggie and Reese, poked fun at Laura and never seemed to take Ripley's moodiness to heart. Reese had been waiting for a new rider to split the crazies with and here he was. Perfect timing.

"She kind of floats over the ground in her workouts. She has a brilliant stride and plays right into your hand. She'll gallop like she's not paying any mind, but really she is. Tabz is a good faker."

Brian stroked the filly's soft cheek, smiled when she seemed to shoot him a questioning look. Taboo reminded him most of the Europe fillies. She was lean and elegant. She didn't carry weight like Hourglass, Nirvana or Miss Josephine. He hadn't been fooled by her demure nature. She was a speed demon at heart. "She seems to have come far from her nutty days."

"Oh yeah. She's a completely different animal. It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get her thinking brain in charge of her instinct brain. But that's what I do. I make the crazies look like geniuses. And these two are. How many fillies do you think can take on and beat sprinters and Turf Tiara candidates and then swing back around and give a rising Triple Tiara candidate a scare? Not many. She's sharp as a nail that one and she's only getting better."

Brian knew what kind of rider Reese was, potentially one of the greatest jocks at the moment. She had finesse and perfect judgement. If she thought Taboo was on the edge of something brilliant, he had no reason to doubt it. He smoothed his hands down the filly's body, taking in the not so obvious muscle and the beautiful shape of her. She was perfect.

Reese looped the reins over Spotlight Pride's neck, pleased with how he was shaping up. It was rare for a Turf Triple candidate to have only made two starts on the season, albeit winning ones. Most of the other contenders were drilling themselves against the likes of Take Flight and Pandora, Casualty of War and Vagabond among them. Pride was the dark horse in Reese's mind. He'd proven he could go nine furlongs under her confident tutelage. Now the goal was to get to ten and then possibly eleven. His filly half-sister, In The Spotlight, had won the Breeders' Cup Turf, hadn't she? It was on his lines to get the distance. While Take Flight was clearly the one to beat this year, Reese knew she had the horse to beat him.

Malcolm stepped from the trainer's office and rolled his shoulders. He grinned at the riders who casually lifted their eyebrows. "McAdams you've been spending too much time with the ladies. You're already picking up their trademark gestures."

Brian scoffed, "There's never too much time for the ladies. Especially jockey ladies."

Reese rolled her eyes and brushed by with Pride. The athletic chestnut strolled right on by, ears pricked and eyes alert. Taboo barely paid him any mind, twitching her hide as if she had better things to worry about than the gleaming colt. Brian patted the filly's neck, "I like you, little girl."

Malcolm boosted Reese into Pride's saddle, patted the colt on the shoulder. Like Taboo, Pride had come far in his mental training. He had always been a runner, but now he was more focused which made him inherently more dangerous. They had essentially been hiding Pride's talent this season by keeping him out of the spotlight. He was filling out beautifully and his next start would come in the Secretariat Stakes. After that, it was onto the Kentucky Open with only three starts onto his belt in Y15. Pride was a worthy adversary and a runner who could throw a wrench in everyone's plans.

"You're only going to do a half mile gallop up today with a three furlong breeze. Both of them look absolutely dapper in their gallops. If they haven't gotten enough stamina by now, they'll never have it."

Mal climbed into the golf cart and drove off toward the flat. Reese narrowed her eyes in surprise. No Ripley, no Brooks. Highly unusual considering the importance of this workout. "Have you seen Ripley at all today, Brian?"

"No, actually, I haven't."

Brian was too busy feeling Taboo out to pay any mind to Reese's concerned look. The filly moved just as Reese said she would. She floated. Her stride was impeccable and she moved like royalty. Essentially, in the U.S., her pedigree was royalty. He let the filly move into her graceful trot. She covered the ground so effortlessly, head appropriately held. She never flinched, not even when Reese cantered Spotlight Pride by to warm him up. Brian watched the chestnut colt for a moment, hummed in approval. He was a fine horse himself.

Reese knew Brian would catch up by the time they hit the half mile gallop up. Taboo knew the routine better than anyone. She was a routine oriented horse. Spotlight Pride rolled along on his long legs, ears pricked and focused on what was ahead. He was a routine animal himself. He seemed to just take everything in stride now. She prided herself on the work she'd done with him. Not many would have been able to deal with the neurotic behavior of either Pride or Tabz.

The filly practically dragged him out of the saddle as she hit a marker she must have memorized. He was standing in the stirrups now, but he didn't restrain her. He let her pull him up to speed, a cruising gallop. Her powerful muscles propelled her easily over the course and Brian knew his filly was a lot more talented than he'd originally given her credit for. And he'd given her a lot of credit. By the final hill, Taboo was within spitting distance of Spotlight Pride. The longer legged colt would be a worthy adversary. Brian practically was rubbing his hands together at the chance to run him down.

The horses cruised up the hillside, at ease with the demanding course thanks to a year and a half of practice. Reese sat chilly aboard Pride as the colt navigated the down hill. He was feeling powerful and very much within himself. She couldn't wait to see the colt versus the filly. Never had she faced Taboo in a workout. She'd always ridden her. This would simply be too exciting for words.

The word breeze flickered through Reese's mind, reminding her she wasn't supposed to go all out today. This wasn't a speed test. It was a prep for the final Turf Crown and Tiara races. Would Pride and Taboo go to the first legs of their respective races? This would be a battle to find out just that.

The horses broke into sweeping gallops the moment they hit the flat. Spotlight Pride was quicker off the mark and pulled to a three length lead over the gray filly. His ears were pricked and he moved like he wasn't putting in as much ever. Reese was crouched over the colt's neck, hands still and not encouraging. She wasn't going to run him into the ground. He rolled over the turf, hooves hardly sinking into the ground. He was a perfect running machine. Reese glanced under shoulder, spotted Taboo's pretty face. She'd made up the three lengths very silently, so silently that Reese was surprised at her closeness.

She's just playing, thought Brian. The filly was just skipping right along, ears swaying back and forth like the exercise was her least concern. Brian patted her neck as she willingly pulled him up alongside Spotlight Pride. The colt and filly met head to head, quickening on their own terms. Both riders were still in the saddle, poised to not interfere.

Mal clocked them going three furlongs in :38, nice and easy. He was duly impressed by both horses. They hadn't been the easiest to work with, but they sure knew their jobs and did them well. He clapped his hands together when the riders returned. Flashing them a smile, "Not bad. Ripley will be happy to know she has candidates for the big turf races."

Reese smirked, "She sure does." She paused, glanced at Brian. "So where is Ripley?"

Mal patted Pride's shoulder, "Oh she's at the hospital. In labor. She told me not to tell you til after the work was done. Hurry up and get them cooled out."

A zing of energy zipped through Reese, causing Pride to dance up on his hind end. Brian scooted Tabz away, hushing her when she started getting nervous. "Well today's a good day for a birth," Brian said with a smile as he watched Reese ride off quickly to the barn.