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Horse: MSR Wild Red Skies
Horse Age: 3
Rider: Jillian Hayes
Show: PHE Event | Holy Bull Stakes
Placed: 1st
Story (1204 words)
The colt's run in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes was a valiant one. It was never his lack of effort that was called into question. He ran hard every time, came back to the shed row every time, and more often than not, was coming back lame. After he grudgingly gave way in the Mucho Macho Man, Aaron asked Jillian her opinion on how the race went.
"He seemed to be galloping strangely," she said. "He seems to be stressing his legs a lot when he runs, which I'm assuming comes from the heart he has. Maybe that lameness hasn't fully gone away?"
The dream of one day racing in one of the world's most prestigious races was starting to dissolve. If Skye wasn't sound enough, Aaron would not run him. A mile and a quarter was going to exhaust him, no matter if he managed to get the lead or not. However, the colt was not about to quit.
However, Aaron saw no reason to rush to another track in order to quickly get preps for the colt. Skye had accumulated 5 points so far, after his displays in the Los Alamitos Futurity and Breeders' Cup. In order to make it to the starting gate, he would need many more. Some of the frontrunners for spots in the gate had over 20 points, and the season was just starting to get underway.
Thankfully, Gulfstream was no stranger to Derby or Oaks preps. Aaron picked out two races that would hopefully lead Skye to the starting gate on the first Saturday in May. The first one was the Holy Bull, not one that offered much in terms of points, but it would hopefully be a springboard to the second prep race, the Fountain of Youth. Both races were grade 2s, and Skye needed to finish well in both. The threshold for making the Derby was likely going to be around 30 points, whereas the horses at the top could have close to 150 points. The competition didn't seem to bother Aaron as much. The Holy Bull was four weeks out from the Mucho Macho Man, allowing Skye ample time to get his legs back.
The day the Holy Bull rolled around, there were nine horses set to jump. While Skye had been galloping well, Aaron made the decision to wrap his front legs. His ankles were not the strongest, and if it was going to help him recover better, he would keep them there. Anything that could help the colt with his joints was going to be taken advantage of. He also put the blinkers back on – a request from Jillian who found him erratic in the backstretch during the Mucho Macho Man. He had a tendency to be distracted, but after the consistent losses, Aaron wanted to try anything.
As the ten horses walked in the paddock, Aaron kept a watchful eye on his colt. He was incredibly difficult to miss, and spectators and photographers alike were jostling for position on the paddock fence to get a photo of the unique horse. He was walking fluidly, showing no signs of lameness. The four weeks off with easy workouts and gallops seemed to help him. Santiago walked him confidently, not having to push him over more than he needed too, as Skye twisted his head around to try and see around the blinker cups restricting his vision.
"Just keep him focused," Aaron said to Jill as she walked up. "There's nothing about this horse you don't already know."
"I'm sure he'll try his heart out," Jill said. "I've just got to give him the best trip I can."
The Call of the Holy Bull
"They're off in the Holy Bull! Breaking quickly and heading right to the front is the race time favourite Wild Red Skies. Chasing him is Victory's Suite who settles in behind on the rail, and Young Hope sits in tight between horses on the outside of him, back by about a half length. Join Forces is on his outside and is being pulled back. One length back to Sports Select who is sitting fifth on the rail who leads Perfect Ruler by a half. Maximizer is three wide in seventh, Hot Under Pressure just behind them in eighth. Get the Dream takes up the last position but is closing fast after a slow start. Just six lengths separates the field.
"The quarter is up in an easy twenty-four seconds flat, and there has been no change up front. Wild Red Skies has put some distance between him and the field at two lengths. Join Forces has moved up the outside to second and holds it by a half, on the rail is now Perfect Ruler who has taken over from Young Hope, going the wrong way. Hot Under Pressure is running five wide in fourth, to his direct inside is Victory's Suite, running in tight quarters and leads Sports Select by a head. Young Hope has fallen back to seventh now, currently leading Get the Dream by a neck on the rail. Maximizer is two back from there and has about twelve lengths of make up.
"The half is a bit faster at 47 and 4 and Wild Red Skies still leads the pack by three lengths now. Behind him is heavy traffic with Perfect Ruler starting to move up on the rail from third to take second by a half from Join Forces. Hot Under Pressure is starting to make a move going three wide and currently sits fourth, Victory's Suite just off his flank on the rail. The field has spread out a bit more now with three back to Sports Select who leads Young Hope by a length and a half. Get the Dream is starting to move up along his outside, and last of all is Maximizer.
"They're into the corner now led by Wild Red Skies who isn't letting them gain any ground, and he still hasn't been asked. Perfect Ruler still trying to fight up alongside Join Forces on the rail. Get the Dream is starting to close huge in to take fourth away, and the field spreads out even more as Maximizer has found another gear and comes flying from way off the pace. Try as they might, but they just can't catch the flashy colt in front! Wild Red Skies looks to finish them off now as they're into the stretch in the Holy Bull. Hot Under Pressure is done for the day, and Victory's Suite has now taken over second, but it will be no contest from the rest of the field. Victory's Suite is trying one last desperation move to try and catch the leader, but it won't be in time. Inside a furlong to go and Wild Red Skies has a four length lead and he's being eased under the wire. A great bounce back performance by Wild Red Skies and Jillian Hayes, and he will be the one to win the Holy Bull by two lengths! Victory's Suite settles for second by three lengths, Join Forces was third by a half over Maximizer closed from twelve lengths back to finish fourth. Final time, 1:36 and 2."
After over a year in the scene, I've figured out that effort racing just isn't for me. It's far too stressful with deadlines that just keep piling up. So, for the foreseeable future, I'll be developing my other horses in career storylines at my own pace. I'll have many more races
No reference used (because i'm tryna get away from that)
| Next >>Horse: MSR Wild Red Skies
Horse Age: 3
Rider: Jillian Hayes
Show: PHE Event | Holy Bull Stakes
Placed: 1st
Story (1204 words)
The colt's run in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes was a valiant one. It was never his lack of effort that was called into question. He ran hard every time, came back to the shed row every time, and more often than not, was coming back lame. After he grudgingly gave way in the Mucho Macho Man, Aaron asked Jillian her opinion on how the race went.
"He seemed to be galloping strangely," she said. "He seems to be stressing his legs a lot when he runs, which I'm assuming comes from the heart he has. Maybe that lameness hasn't fully gone away?"
The dream of one day racing in one of the world's most prestigious races was starting to dissolve. If Skye wasn't sound enough, Aaron would not run him. A mile and a quarter was going to exhaust him, no matter if he managed to get the lead or not. However, the colt was not about to quit.
However, Aaron saw no reason to rush to another track in order to quickly get preps for the colt. Skye had accumulated 5 points so far, after his displays in the Los Alamitos Futurity and Breeders' Cup. In order to make it to the starting gate, he would need many more. Some of the frontrunners for spots in the gate had over 20 points, and the season was just starting to get underway.
Thankfully, Gulfstream was no stranger to Derby or Oaks preps. Aaron picked out two races that would hopefully lead Skye to the starting gate on the first Saturday in May. The first one was the Holy Bull, not one that offered much in terms of points, but it would hopefully be a springboard to the second prep race, the Fountain of Youth. Both races were grade 2s, and Skye needed to finish well in both. The threshold for making the Derby was likely going to be around 30 points, whereas the horses at the top could have close to 150 points. The competition didn't seem to bother Aaron as much. The Holy Bull was four weeks out from the Mucho Macho Man, allowing Skye ample time to get his legs back.
The day the Holy Bull rolled around, there were nine horses set to jump. While Skye had been galloping well, Aaron made the decision to wrap his front legs. His ankles were not the strongest, and if it was going to help him recover better, he would keep them there. Anything that could help the colt with his joints was going to be taken advantage of. He also put the blinkers back on – a request from Jillian who found him erratic in the backstretch during the Mucho Macho Man. He had a tendency to be distracted, but after the consistent losses, Aaron wanted to try anything.
As the ten horses walked in the paddock, Aaron kept a watchful eye on his colt. He was incredibly difficult to miss, and spectators and photographers alike were jostling for position on the paddock fence to get a photo of the unique horse. He was walking fluidly, showing no signs of lameness. The four weeks off with easy workouts and gallops seemed to help him. Santiago walked him confidently, not having to push him over more than he needed too, as Skye twisted his head around to try and see around the blinker cups restricting his vision.
"Just keep him focused," Aaron said to Jill as she walked up. "There's nothing about this horse you don't already know."
"I'm sure he'll try his heart out," Jill said. "I've just got to give him the best trip I can."
The Call of the Holy Bull
"They're off in the Holy Bull! Breaking quickly and heading right to the front is the race time favourite Wild Red Skies. Chasing him is Victory's Suite who settles in behind on the rail, and Young Hope sits in tight between horses on the outside of him, back by about a half length. Join Forces is on his outside and is being pulled back. One length back to Sports Select who is sitting fifth on the rail who leads Perfect Ruler by a half. Maximizer is three wide in seventh, Hot Under Pressure just behind them in eighth. Get the Dream takes up the last position but is closing fast after a slow start. Just six lengths separates the field.
"The quarter is up in an easy twenty-four seconds flat, and there has been no change up front. Wild Red Skies has put some distance between him and the field at two lengths. Join Forces has moved up the outside to second and holds it by a half, on the rail is now Perfect Ruler who has taken over from Young Hope, going the wrong way. Hot Under Pressure is running five wide in fourth, to his direct inside is Victory's Suite, running in tight quarters and leads Sports Select by a head. Young Hope has fallen back to seventh now, currently leading Get the Dream by a neck on the rail. Maximizer is two back from there and has about twelve lengths of make up.
"The half is a bit faster at 47 and 4 and Wild Red Skies still leads the pack by three lengths now. Behind him is heavy traffic with Perfect Ruler starting to move up on the rail from third to take second by a half from Join Forces. Hot Under Pressure is starting to make a move going three wide and currently sits fourth, Victory's Suite just off his flank on the rail. The field has spread out a bit more now with three back to Sports Select who leads Young Hope by a length and a half. Get the Dream is starting to move up along his outside, and last of all is Maximizer.
"They're into the corner now led by Wild Red Skies who isn't letting them gain any ground, and he still hasn't been asked. Perfect Ruler still trying to fight up alongside Join Forces on the rail. Get the Dream is starting to close huge in to take fourth away, and the field spreads out even more as Maximizer has found another gear and comes flying from way off the pace. Try as they might, but they just can't catch the flashy colt in front! Wild Red Skies looks to finish them off now as they're into the stretch in the Holy Bull. Hot Under Pressure is done for the day, and Victory's Suite has now taken over second, but it will be no contest from the rest of the field. Victory's Suite is trying one last desperation move to try and catch the leader, but it won't be in time. Inside a furlong to go and Wild Red Skies has a four length lead and he's being eased under the wire. A great bounce back performance by Wild Red Skies and Jillian Hayes, and he will be the one to win the Holy Bull by two lengths! Victory's Suite settles for second by three lengths, Join Forces was third by a half over Maximizer closed from twelve lengths back to finish fourth. Final time, 1:36 and 2."
After over a year in the scene, I've figured out that effort racing just isn't for me. It's far too stressful with deadlines that just keep piling up. So, for the foreseeable future, I'll be developing my other horses in career storylines at my own pace. I'll have many more races
No reference used (because i'm tryna get away from that)
Image size
3000x2200px 8.95 MB
© 2019 - 2026 Annacaza
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your shading is so detailed and pretty; this is stunning!!