Not So Mystical

[Sam]

The chestnut filly, Annie, trotted a long, her eyes wide though dull, as if she was staring off into some other land, obviously not paying attention. Her stride was almost lazy, completely carefree and relaxed. Her short red tail swung from side to side with each step as her rider posted almost as lazily to the beat.

Nearby, Tracy was teetering on the edge of his temper. He wanted to follow the young filly, but his jockey refused to allow him even near her. The bay colt snorted and threw his head, opening his mouth and chewing on the bit. His eyes were wide rimmed and he pranced sideways.

The jockey upon the bay took her whip in the other hand and gave him a sharp tap on his hind as it started to drift. He snorted, jumped, and threw out his hip again, as if in defiance. The girl didn't take a moment of hesitation, she tapped him again with the same force as previously.

He snorted and bucked. Another tap, another buck. Another tap, this a slight bolt forwards with a buck. The jockey pulled him up quickly and none too kindly. The colt replied back with a rear. Hey! the girl yelled, startling the colt a bit so he landed short. She brought his head down and to the side, making him spin in a circle, tapping his flank slightly with the whip.

He fought against her, pulling hard against her hand and attempting to buck with the constant spinning it was almost impossible. Eventually, he quieted down and they continued their warm up with Tracy completely ignoring Annie with a slight pouting look about him.

Minutes passed and the jockeys- Jake and Sam- took the two young Thoroughbreds to stand side by side at the six furlong marker. Tracy jittered and danced, his eyes fixed straight ahead, knowing his job and knowing exactly what he needed to do.

Annie, on the other hand, didn't seem to have notice and instead watched something unseen on the other side of the track.

On go, Sam said, tightening her reins slightly on the dancing colt.

Ready...

Tracy threw his head is pure frustration, nearly giving Sam a nose bleed. She managed to save her face with a slight jump to the side.

Set...

Annie turned her attention to a near by dragonfly that fluttered past her nose.

Go!

The colt dove forwards, eating the the ground in a matter of strides. He picked up speed and eventually was soaring along the track at a fast pace, his neck dipping with each stride, trying to gain even more.

Annie hesitated for a second then after Jake's consensus, quickly followed after Tracy. She had difficulty catching up, but wasn't really trying too. She wasn't much of a front runner.

Slowly, very slowly, Annie caught up. Her head came to Tracy's flank. He kept his pace fast, but even. He could keep it up for quite some time, though Annie appeared to be struggling slightly with the fast pace.

The final stretch came up fast.

Annie finally burst forwards, passing Tracy as she gunned it down the stretch. Her long, lean legs flying and her long back helping to eat up the ground. Her stride extended and quickened, making it appear as if she was barely hitting the ground before she picked up her hoof again. Jake fell slightly in the saddle, not expecting such a strong reaction.

Tracy responded quickly as the filly passed him. He dug deep with his hind and shot himself forwards with every stride. His front stretched and dragged himself forwards, trying to make more air between the strides and thus covering more ground. His head pulled forwards as Sam followed his mouth, urging him when she really didn't need to.

The wire was almost upon them at this point and Tracy had managed a head in front of Annie, yet both were pouring on more and more speed.

A few strides later and the wire flew over them. Tracy continued to run despite Sam trying to pull him up. Annie responded quickly and happily, slowing to a canter as Tracy continued to gallop down the stretch, obviously thinking he needed to do overkill to make sure he won this time.