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Horse: MSR Wild Red Skies
Horse Age: 3
Rider: Jillian Hayes
Show: PHE Event | Fountain of Youth Stakes
Placed: 1st

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Story (1214 words)
    After his brilliant performance in the Holy Bull, it was no secret that Skye was the favourite. However, the goal of the Derby was still far from over. Skye only held 14 points to his name, and it was going to take another on the board performance to have a chance at earning a post in the twenty-horse starting gate on the first Saturday in May. However, he had been training well. The break between the Holy Bull and the Fountain of Youth was generous to him, and he was well-versed in multiple week breaks. After all, the competition and gruelling schedule was only just beginning.
    He would be up against three horses he'd outrun in the Holy Bull – Victory's Suite, Join Forces, and Maximizer. While it was fair to say he'd been able to defeat the three relatively easily, their class couldn't be discounted. Maximizer had a terrible trip and closed huge to get up for fourth. Victory's Suite showed speed, but had been caught in traffic on the rail. Skye had broken easily and had been given the favourable post position. The track was favourable, and it was again on the day of the Fountain of Youth – fast. However, the one thing that wasn't favourable was the competition. The Holy Bull saw no one challenge him at any post. They stayed back by a few lengths even though the pace was slow. Skye wanted the lead and would speed duel with anyone who tried to take it from him. Some of the horses he hadn't run against in the past were frontrunners, and they wanted the lead just as much as he did.
    "Captivity will duel with us," Aaron said as the horses walked in the paddock. Jillian had been scouting the competition as well, but her time was limited. She did ride for other barns after all. "Radar Express can do both, but he likes to push. Neon Bright wants the rail and if he has it, he'll go forward."
    "So get him out fast?" Jillian asked.
    "If you can," Aaron said. "Don't burn him out, don't let him speed duel. He knows you and I don't think he'll quit on you if you try to pull him back. One thing's for sure, we won't be able to run those fractions again with four possible speed horses."
    To the surprise of no one, Skye was the paddock favourite. His odds were sitting at a comfortable 3-1, and were only dropping with each update. Aaron shook his head.     "Favourite's kiss of death," he muttered.
    "He was the favourite last time and he did fine," Jillian said with a smile. "Besides, if he wasn't the favourite, I'd be concerned for the casual race fans who are putting money down on him. He's got a big following, you know."
    "Well, you can't miss him," Aaron said.
    The colt's ears were flickering around, turning his head to try and mitigate the annoyance of the blinkers and his shadow roll. Santiago shook the lead at him as he began to slow down for someone flashing a camera at him.
    "I guess it goes without saying you need to keep him focused," Aaron said. "He's bad at that as it is – if he has other horses to look at–"
    "Yeah, he'll try to look at them," Jillian cut him off. "I've ridden this horse a lot if you couldn't tell."
    "Oh, I know," he said. "Safe trip."
    Skye approached the pair and Santiago slowed as Jillian approached. Aaron helped her up onto the colt's back and he pranced in his usual fashion as Santiago led him forward. He didn't seem focused, but he knew it was time for a run.

The Call of the Fountain of Youth Stakes
    "They're off in the Fountain of Youth! Quickly up to the front is the on-track favourite Wild Red Skies and he cuts over to settle in on the rail. Captivity is pressuring him by a half length on the outside. Right on them on the inside is Neon Bright, Fabled Del Mar is running in the 3 path in fourth. Half a length back to a pack of Radar Express on the rail who hods fifth by a head over Join Forces on the outside. Three wide is Victory's Suite followed by Maximizer settling back second last. The trailer is Half Wild who has not recovered after a slow start and is seven lengths back. Only seven lengths separate this field of three year olds as they round into the backstretch.
    "The quarter is up in a lively 23 and 2 and it's still Wild Red Skies leading by a neck now over Captivity who continues to push him on the outside. Neon Bright is still stuck in traffic on the inside by a neck with Fabled Del Mar running along in fourth. Join Forces has moved up to take fifth from Radar Express who is passed by Victory's Suite on the far outside. From Radar Express, it's about a length back to Maximizer and last of all is still Half Wild.
    "The leaders are still pushing the pace as the half goes in 47 and 4. Wild Red Skies is seeing his lead beginning to widen to about a three quarter length over Captivity, but can't quite shake him off. Neon Bright is still sitting comfortably in third by a half. Fabled Del Mar is on his outside fourth. The field is starting to spread out now with two lengths back to Radar Express in fifth followed by Join Forces and Victory's Suite. Then it's another half back to Maximizer and three back to Half Wild.
    "Still no change up front as they head into the corner and Wild red Skies has finally shaken Captivity, and he has the lead by a length now. Neon Bright now has second but has nowhere to go as Fabled Del Mar starts ramping up in third. Captivity holds fourth by a head now over Radar Express. Victory's Suite making a valiant run in sixth but he has a lot of ground to make up as they're into the corner now. Maximizer is starting to pick up the pace now, and Join Forces is finding himself stuck between horses. It's now four lengths back to Half Wild, and they're rounding the corner into the stretch. It's still Wild Red Skies and he's not stopping for anybody! Neon Bright is trying to run at him but Wild Red Skies has the lead by four lengths. Fabled Del Mar is running along on the outside of him and Join Forces is making a remarkable move! He now has fourth and he's closing fast, but will it be enough? They have two furlongs to go as Wild Red Skies leads them down in front of this great Gulfstream crowd. The wonder colt from Canada has taken over this race! Neon Bright and Fabled Del Mar are all out behind him, but it will be Wild Red Skies to take the Fountain of Youth in another brilliant performance here at Gulfstream! Neon Bright was second by a length, Fabled Del Mar held third by a head, and Join Forces with a magnificent rally to get up fourth. Final time was 1:44 flat!

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honestly annoyed I didn't figure out how to draw my man realistically until after i broke him down.
With that, that's the end of Skye's official retconned storyline! Still need to go through and edit some things in the meantime to make everything more coherent. I'll still be drawing this boy in his recovery and his time on the farm.

No reference used (although i did look at a bunch of photos to see how legs work)