free-fall into the FUTURE

[Melissa]

one day it'll be our time to shine
for now we live our days up right
playing around, free-spirited without a care
we are the future

The black colt curiously eyed the waves as they crested and then came crashing into the beach. Striking one hoof out into the waves the six month old colt squealed in suprise as the water flowed around his hoof and bolted backwards nearly falling over himself in the process. Scrambling to keep his balance Braveheart spun around and charged up the sandy hill to where I sat watching the other young foals examine the water. The three mares behind me, Electra, Vintage and Regency were calmly enjoying the grass yet from time to time one of them would survey their respective young one and call out. "Heyy Braves." I greeted a split second before the usually daring Waylay colt rammed head first into me. "Whats his problem?" Cain muttered to me from where he was lying on his back watching the broodmares. "The water scared him." Gabs answered for me since I was still trying to catch my breath. Like a dog Braveheart had sat down in between my legs and was rubbing his muzzle up and down my arm. Now that his initial scare had passed he was back to being himself, the spirited and sweet colt he'd been since he was born. "Gawd boy, go play with Bud." I panted, my breathing coming back to normal as I shoved him away with a slap on the rump. Tottering a few steps away the black colt looked quizzically at me until Lily's piercing whinny at Mai caught his attention and he shot off down back to the water. At a lope the young black circled the band of fillies, Andorra, Marilyn Monroe, Bellefire and Kasimira before he went off to play around with Rhosebud. The chestnut Axel Rhose colt was a stunning young colt with a solid white blaze, brilliant chestnut coat and one front white stocking. Normally the coat would have been up here on the hill harassing Cain, me and Gabs but he seemed remotely interested in the water that swirled under his belly. Flicking his ears around when Bravie trotted through the water towards him, Bud tossed his head and swished his tail, his eyes watching his darker colored friend. Upon reaching the Augusto grandson Bravie tugged at Bud's mane with his baby teeth before rearing. Bud mirrored the other colt's movements and the pair shot off through the surf, water splashing up high around the racing pair of colts. Andorra's ears pricked way forward as she watched Bud and Bravie. Once the chestnut and black had rolled by where the fillies were standing together she rocketed off after them. Andorra's grey coat flickered and flashed like diamonds when her strides took her into the water. "They are an amazing bunch of foals." Gabrielle said in a soft voice as Bellefire, Marilyn Monroe and Kasimira followed in Andorra's wake. "I know, I can not wait to see them be broken to saddle." I answered admiring each of the foals as they bunched up in a group and raced against each other along the beach. "Who's going to be riding them?" Cain asked out of interest. "Well G will be riding Mai, I'll ride Bravie, Mira, Lily and Andorra. I guess Kyle will be Bud's rider." I answered and Gabby gave a squeal of delight. "So when will I be able to ride Mel?" Cain asked, shooting Gabs a look and the dark haired girl looked back at him. "You'll be Northern Pride's jockey when he starts racing this fall." was my response as I kept a close eye on the five galloping foals that were now coming back up the beach. To be just a few weeks old Mira, Lily and Mai were keeping up with the three older foals.

Rhosebud was in the lead and the chestnut colt was galloping along as smooth as a locomotive. Breeding at its best Bud was sired by Axel Rhose, the son of Augusto and Stormwing, and out of Closing Time the full sister to Miss Matinee and Monte' Carlo that was in foal to Speed of Light now. He was temperamentally strange but fun to work with once he had been burned out by trying to attack his handler. It would be a lot of fun to see how he grew up and even more exciting to see what he did as a racer since he was the first Gus grandson I'd bred myself. He was a big boy too, he had one of the most powerful hindquarters I'd ever seen in such a young colt. Bud would be one kick-ass racer when he turned two and I would do anything to see he lived up to expectations. Braveheart had fallen back to third and Andorra was running a head in front of him. The grey filly had equally an impressive pedigree as Bud but her grey coat contrasted sharply with the chestnut's. A daughter of Second Chance, the first Dominance winner and Twilight Stakes champion, as well as victor of the Barbaro stakes. Chance had also been named a MHS Champion so my spirited little girl had quite the impressive sire, but of course WB Star Attraction, Andorra's dam was no slouch either. Her first by FS Waylay Attack, Air Express had won the Turf Juvenile and was now in a strict training schedule. Braveheart was my special guy of all the foals. He had everything I wanted in a super racing colt and exactly the right attitude to make it big. Distancely related to Andorra through their brother Air Express he was quite different from the grey filly but they both shared the same love of running. Bravie would top out around sixteen hands and hopefully would return the charming ways he currently as a foal that he would as a three year old and even a four year old. The thought sent chills down my back and Gabs coughed from behind me and the tickle of whiskers made me turn my head to see Vintage standing close to my shoulder. Regency was at her side and Electra was nosing Cain with curiousity. The European boy was patting the marble appaloosa Sporthorse mare's neck. Even though it had been years since the Java full sister had been inside a show ring or even had a foal to call her own she had tended to Fireworks since Faith had still been racing, now she was caring for Marilyn Monroe since Cascade was back at Memoir Stables. Kasimira was just behind Braveheart with Lily at her side and Marilyn Monroe a nose behind the pair on Lily's other side. The Speed of Light filly pinned back her ears and jumped forward to challenge Rhosebud, flying past Braveheart and Andorra on the outside. A stunning filly with bloodlines that were well known Mira was one of the last Regency foals and the only couple weeks old filly was showing sharp speed and amazing turn of foot. Rhosebud's nostrils flared and the chestnut Clover son rolled his eyes at the chestnut filly who went stride for stride with him through the surf. Bellefire was playing around as she galloped but still keeping up with Kasimira and having no problem doing so. The bay filly was like her racing pals bred to be a top racer. Her sire was War Admiral, the sire of TC Winner Admiral's Revenge and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Warlock. Vintage spoke for herself being Santana's mommy and a Twilight Stakes winner like Second Chance. Marilyn Monroe was the final filly racing and by far she was the one who was the icing on the cake. Her father was none other than GS Remington, the Smiles Boo and Stormwing son that had been one outstanding racer in his day. His victories included two Breeders' Cup Classics, a Dawn Treader Cup, and three races in the La Copa Del Diamante series just to name the larger races he had raced in. Rio was a big, talented black stallion and with any luck Mai had at least five percent of the fire that had made Rio a MHS Champion. Rio's speed combined with the energy of Cascade had produced one really great filly. I was totally smitten by Marilyn Monroe and with this crop of totally, amazing, equally impressive foals I was spending a whole lot more time with the foals and broodmares this year than any of the other years.