The new Saturday arrived, and with it came race day at Santa Anita Park Racecourse.Tokai Teio's so-called "exhibition race" was scheduled as the final race of the day.
"Why isn't it the first race?" Sitting in the private box, Shuta An complained lazily to Miss Secretariat. "Now we're stuck watching races all day."
"That's the racetrack's arrangement," Miss Secretariat shrugged. "Complaining to me won't change anything."
"Never mind." Shuta An shook his head. "Teio has already gone to the lounge to prepare. The start time won't affect her condition."
"That girl does seem full of talent," Miss Secretariat said calmly, offering her evaluation. "But defeating our West Coast Uma Musume still won't be easy."
Shuta An gave a noncommittal response and smoothly changed the topic.
"Today's main race isn't even a graded one. No wonder they placed Teio's simulated race today. Without her, how many tickets do you think this racetrack would sell?"
"Even if that's true, ticket revenue belongs to the racetrack," Miss Secretariat shook her head. "No matter how much you hint, that money won't end up in either of our pockets."
"In that case, forget it." Shuta An leaned back against the sofa, turned his head, and spoke to Berno Light. "I'll close my eyes for a bit. Wake me when Teio and the others are about to race."
"Alright, alright~" Berno Light responded cheerfully, reaching out to rub her lover's head.
Oguri Cap, whose lap was currently serving as his pillow, gently reached out as well—closing Shuta An's eyelids for him.
"Trainer stayed up very late last night, didn't he?" she said softly. "You should catch up on some sleep."
Hearing that, Shuta An grumbled inwardly—
You're the one who made me stay up late last night, Oguri.
The final race of the day was scheduled to begin at 5:10 PM.
At 4:30 PM, nine Uma Musume participating in the exhibition race emerged from the underground passage. Because this was only a simulated race, all of them wore training uniforms. However, sharp-eyed observers quickly noticed something unusual—
Tokai Teio's expression didn't look ood.
"Is she alright?" Maruzensky whispered worriedly to Symboli Rudolf. "Teio doesn't look well."
"Probably not a health issue," Symboli Rudolf, who knew Tokai Teio well, shook her head. "Something likely happened in the underground passage. We can ask Shuta-kun later."
Shuta An had been just as concerned—but Miss Secretariat glanced at Tokai Teio once and spoke faintly: "She's probably troubled by her physique."
Shuta An instinctively examined the opponents standing around Tokai Teio—before he could finish, Berno Light flicked his forehead. Still, he reached the same conclusion.
"It seems she was stimulated by the difference in physique," he said calmly. "But there's no need to worry. Teio's physique is already excellent for her age."
"You can say that directly to Teio," Oguri Cap tugged his ear lightly, "but I guarantee she won't be happy about it."
"As if Oguri enjoys hearing things like that," Shuta An pouted. "I'm not an idiot."
"Let's just watch the race properly," Miss Secretariat said quietly. "I hope Miss Teio can deliver a good performance."
"And what counts as a good performance?" Shuta An raised an eyebrow. "For Teio herself, only victory will satisfy her, won't it?"
"This is essentially an expedition," Berno Light shook her head. "Winning won't be easy. I think finishing in the top three would already be a great success."
Shuta An only smiled and said nothing. Based on his understanding of Tokai Teio, an Uma Musume aiming for an 'Undefeated Triple Crown' would never accept losing here—no matter how many reasons there were.
Tokai Teio, who had personally chosen the middle fifth gate, thought the same.
This gate position is the most suitable.If I don't win…how can I surpass the President?
For Tokai Teio, her goal had never been limited to becoming an "Undefeated Triple Crown Uma Musume." What she truly wanted was to step onto foreign battlefields like Symboli Rudolf, to win there—and surpass the lifelong figure she admired most.
'This is a rehearsal for my future expeditions.I absolutely cannot lose here' Filled with fighting spirit, Tokai Teio stepped into the starting gate.
The West Coast Uma Musume participating in this simulated race were no less determined.
All of them were highly anticipated talents within the Academy. They had heard each other's names countless times—yet had never competed directly.
"This time, we'll find out who's just a name without substance," a tall, muscular Uma Musume muttered as she scanned the field.
Paradise Creek, who had transferred from Europe, was far calmer.
"This is only a simulated race—two thousand meters," she thought. "It decides nothing. The prize money is just five hundred twenty thousand dollars. As long as I don't finish last or get injured, it's fine."
One by one, the Uma Musume entered their gates. No one whispered. No one exchanged glances. They waited in silence—
This exhibition race had been heavily publicized by Santa Anita Park Racecourse. Given the mediocre quality of the day's earlier races, it had become the most anticipated event for all ticket-holding spectators.
"Undebuted talents from West Coast Tracen Academy—and even an Uma Musume from Japan"
"To be honest, I only recognize one name from over there: Oguri Cap, who won the French Two Crowns last year."
"It's a turf race. That was probably decided just to accommodate the Japanese Uma Musume."
"Even so, West Coast should win easily. There can't be a second Oguri Cap."
"Wow…you're even more confident than I expected."
"Of course! Didn't you see the racetrack's promotion? Every Uma Musume here is a recognized talent!"
Bang!
As the chatter filled the stands—
the gates burst open.
Shuta An had not arranged any specific tactics for Tokai Teio. He had only given her one instruction before the race began: Find your position according to your own judgment after leaving the gate.
And one reminder—American Uma Musume are extremely aggressive in physical confrontation. Be careful.
Nothing more.
And the moment the gates opened, Tokai Teio immediately understood why that warning mattered. Sky Classic on her left and Miss Alleged on her right moved almost simultaneously, both trying to force a fierce physical engagement right out of the gate—clearly intending to disrupt her balance and positioning from the very start.
But Tokai Teio was prepared. The instant she broke from the gate, she accelerated. Relying on her exceptional burst speed, she slipped forward in a heartbeat, threading herself cleanly through the narrowing gap between Sky Classic and Miss Alleged before their bodies could fully close in.
"Phew—" Tokai Teio exhaled sharply. 'Good thing Trainer told me about last year's Japan Cup yesterday. Learning from Oguri Cap-senpai's experience really helped'
Using her explosive early acceleration, Tokai Teio quickly secured a favorable position, then decisively cut inward toward the rail—eliminating the risk of being forced wide or squeezed out by competitors as the pace settled.
All the Trainers of the participating Uma Musume had gathered in a VIP box to observe the race. Since it was only an exhibition event, Miss Secretariat had simply arranged for everyone to stay together—after all, with her present, no one would dare cause trouble.
When Tokai Teio cleanly escaped the double pincer from Sky Classic and Miss Alleged, several Trainers instinctively turned their gaze toward Shuta An.
The Young man's expression was calm. Too calm. As if nothing noteworthy had just happened on the track.
"That was extreme," Miss Secretariat spoke softly, voicing what the others were thinking. "To accelerate so sharply right after the start—Even by West Coast standards, her explosiveness is top-tier."
"That's normal," Shuta An replied indifferently. "Tokai Teio was already under my training before Oguri Cap ever stepped onto a European racetrack."
The Trainers exchanged glances.
"So that child—" one of them finally asked, "is a Uma Musume trained by Mr. Shuta?"
"That's right."
Before Shuta An could answer, Symboli Rudolf spoke calmly.
"She is the junior I value most in the academy. Considering Shuta-kun's abilities, I entrusted him with Teio's training two years ago. However, since Shuta-kun has not officially joined the academy yet, it is only recorded as a reserved commission."
As the Emperor spoke, Shuta An's thoughts drifted.
Speaking of which—I'll be returning to Japan in the Dream World tonight.I wonder how they'll react to an 'American Triple Crown' jockey coming back.
He smiled faintly.
I even helped Sagami Masayuki win the Tokai Derby.Once I pass the Central Jockey license exam at the end of the year, transferring to Central will be faster than officially joining Central Tracen Academy in reality.
After entering the opposite straight, Tokai Teio—now settled into position—slightly relaxed and transitioned into a high-speed cruising state.
At this point, she was running fourth, approximately four lengths behind the leader, Flawlessly. Behind her, Hatoof lingered less than a length away.
'Fourth place.No pressure from the sides or rear.No risk of being boxed in when I enter the final straight.' Tokai Teio calmly analyzed her situation while maintaining speed.
Behind her, Hatoof frowned deeply. "This is strange. Why is Tokai Teio maintaining such a fast pace here?"
"Isn't she worried about exhausting her stamina before the final stretch?" The same doubt surfaced in the mind of Tight Spot, who was running third. Because Tokai Teio was steadily closing the gap between them.
In the VIP box, Tight Spot's Trainer glanced at Shuta An—and froze. The Young man looked completely unperturbed.
"Is he insane?" Tight Spot's Trainer muttered under his breath. "Chasing distance at this speed on the opposite straight? Isn't he afraid she'll run dry at the end?"
But Shuta An was not worried in the slightest. Based on Tokai Teio's training results and the data from the attribute viewer, he knew she was fully capable of handling races up to 3000 meters.
This was only 2000 meters. Maintaining a high-speed cruise posed no problem whatsoever.
"She won't pass Tight Spot here," Oguri Cap muttered quietly. "She still needs her to break the wind."
Her voice was soft—but everyone in the box heard it. Tight Spot's Trainer stiffened. After re-examining Tokai Teio's positioning, he clicked his tongue sharply.
"Tsk!"
For Shuta An, this was the most worry-free race he had watched in a long time. He had given Tokai Teio only the barest hint. Everything else—positioning, pacing, judgment—he left entirely to her. And she did not disappoint.
As the pack entered the final bend, Tokai Teio noticed Tight Spot drifting slightly outward. She didn't know whether it was an attempt to block her line or a simple adjustment—but one thing was clear:
The inner lane had opened.
'What a gift.Missing this would be unforgivable.'
Without hesitation, Tokai Teio shifted another step inward, creating a clear gap between herself and Tight Spot. Before the Uma Musume ahead could react—
She exploded forward. In just a few strides, Tokai Teio surged through the inner lane, forcefully overtaking Tight Spot and seizing third place in one clean motion.
"How is that possible?!"
"Accelerating here?!" Tight Spot's Trainer clutched his head and shouted. But his reaction was drowned out—
Because every Trainer in the box looked just as stunned.
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