upset

Fortune-Claire's hand-pony
rounded the stretch and pooped
out, while Torture-Claire's
hand-pony surged. The absence
of crowd went wild and was soon
holding breath drawn deeper
to shout, as she urged. The race
was as pretty and neat
as she pleased
and

poised

to be wound up
predictably, well

it was pretty much hers,
but then worse luck,

she came in third.