The commentator's voice rang out with unrestrained excitement, echoing across the packed stands as the long line of Uma Musume thundered into the opposite straightaway. The race had already passed the halfway point, and the atmosphere on the track grew heavier with every powerful stride.
"Let's confirm the current positions!" the commentator announced, his tone measured but filled with anticipation.
"Still leading is Kitasan Black!
"Right behind her is Seiun Sky, refusing to give up as she tries to close the gap. She's narrowed it from four lengths to three… but the distance remains significant!
"The heavily favored Satono Crown sits comfortably in the middle-to-rear of the pack. She didn't push too aggressively during the early positioning battle, clearly committing to her signature come-from-behind strategy for this race.
"Right on her heels is the third favorite, Duramente, who appears to be aiming for the same late-race surge.
"The second favorite, Manhattan Cafe, has positioned herself quite far forward in fifth or sixth place, roughly six lengths behind the leader. So far, she shows no signs of making a bold move forward.
"The choices made by the top contenders are crystal clear. Each has selected the running style they excel at most. The pack continues at a steady cruising pace, without any major early disruptions. It looks like the real decisive moment will arrive at the upcoming bend or in the final straight."
Compared to the frantic early stages, the commentator's voice had grown noticeably calmer, though the underlying tension in his words was unmistakable.
Within the tightly bunched racing pack, many of the Uma Musume were lost in their own thoughts, calculating, strategizing, and steeling their resolve for what lay ahead.
Far back in the field, separated by more than ten bodies, Satono Crown kept her sharp gaze locked onto Kitasan Black's figure some twenty to thirty meters ahead.
Kita-chan's strength… it's even more overwhelming than I imagined.
The way she had accelerated so early, and multiple times no less. Could her stamina truly withstand such a demanding pace?
No. She couldn't allow herself to think that way.
Her trainer had been very clear: while Kitasan Black's pure speed and explosive power might not be the highest, her stamina was extraordinarily robust. That factor could not be underestimated.
At this level of consumption, it probably wasn't a problem for her yet.
But with only the current gap… Satono Crown still believed she could close it.
Her eyes shifted, scanning the other dangerous rivals. The ones she needed to watch most carefully were still these few…
Her gaze finally settled on the striking black-and-gold figure running diagonally behind her. In her clear blue eyes, subtle ripples stirred deep within Duramente's pupils as their eyes seemed to meet for a brief moment.
Meanwhile, among the opponents Satono Crown was monitoring so closely, Manhattan Cafe's attention was also fixed firmly on the leader at the front.
From the very beginning of the race until now, Kitasan Black's performance had been dramatically different from what she had shown in the Spring Stakes.
In that earlier race, the powerful opponent had run her usual controlled front-running style, never opening up too massive a lead. It had been more of a slightly faster leading style rather than a true runaway.
But this time, in the middle stages, she had already carved out an advantage of more than three lengths over second place. Even more surprising was the technique she had used to create that separation, something entirely new compared to the previous encounter.
This put Manhattan Cafe in a difficult psychological spot.
In the final spurt of the Spring Stakes, she had only been three lengths behind when she began her charge. She had overcome similar gaps countless times in training, surging past with her powerful late acceleration.
Yet Kitasan Black had stubbornly held on with incredible stamina and willpower, ultimately claiming victory.
Now, considering just herself and the leader, the gap had doubled to a full six lengths.
After losing by three lengths last time, could she really afford to stay calm in the face of a six-length deficit this time?
As hesitation crept into her mind, her ears, which had unconsciously tilted backward, suddenly picked up the sound of hoofbeats closing in from behind.
The real problem is… if I start chasing now, how do I handle Satono Crown, Duramente, and Danon Platina in the final straight?
Without enough stamina reserved, she wouldn't be able to compete with them when it truly mattered…
No. She couldn't waste her energy here.
There was still some distance left before the third bend. It would be perfect to make her move once they entered that curve!
Hold back… wait for the right moment!
This time, she would not fail.
This time… I must claim the championship!
I must win the Satsuki Sho!
The moment Manhattan Cafe firmed up her decision, her eyes sharpened with renewed determination.
But in the very next second, her ears caught a sudden, explosive increase in the rhythm of hoofbeats from the very front. Her pupils contracted sharply to pinpricks.
Who… Kitasan Black?!
Impossible!
How could she start accelerating at a moment like this?!
And with that kind of powerful stride?!
Does she still have the stamina left to unleash something like that again?!
…
As the entrance to the third bend came clearly into view, Kitasan Black did not hesitate for even a fraction of a second. She suddenly unleashed the devastating sprint stride she had already switched into several times before.
The powerful counterforce from her right hoof kicking against the dirt was unmistakable. Faintly, she could almost smell the fresh scent of crushed grass stems and green juice bursting into the air.
The roaring cheers from the spectator stands washed over her like a distant tide. It was a familiar sound, yet this time she could clearly isolate the crisp sound of her opponents' hoofbeats cutting through the noise from behind.
They hadn't reacted yet!
They still didn't understand how much she had sacrificed and prepared for this exact battle, nor what level of speed she could sustain.
They had no idea that after countless hours of brutal, grueling training, she had carefully conserved her energy during the straight following the previous bend.
All of that saved stamina was for this one final, decisive acceleration!
To pull away as far as possible…
These opponents' final spurts were terrifyingly powerful, each one faster than the last…
She had to widen the gap continuously, from the middle stages all the way through to the final straight, creating a distance so great that they could never hope to close it no matter how hard they tried.
At this moment, the girl fully understood her entire strategy.
She didn't need, and couldn't afford, to leave the key to victory until the very end on the final straight.
The key to her victory was right here, in this very bend, even though the finish line was still out of sight!
With her vision locked onto the inner rail of the curve, Kitasan Black poured her entire heart and soul into controlling her body and unleashing her power. She felt as if the wind pressure was stretching her whole body into a perfect straight line.
Powerful centrifugal force tugged at her violently, threatening to throw her off balance. For a moment, she almost imagined she could hear her muscle fibers and bones crying out in protest under the immense strain.
But she hadn't reached her limit yet!
She could still push further!
The daily, repetitive training she had endured revealed its true value once again. Like a dark storm tearing across the track, the girl surged forward with ferocious momentum into the massive right-hand curve.
It was only when she had fully unleashed the second Gradient Acceleration that she finally heard the hair-raising commotion erupting behind her.
It sounded like dense thunder.
No, it was the ground itself trembling as her opponents began accelerating simultaneously in response.
They… had finally reacted!
"Running wild! She's running wild! Kitasan Black has launched yet another incredible charge on the third bend!"
The announcer's voice suddenly shot up an octave, his roar causing the microphone to crackle with piercing feedback.
"The second incredible acceleration! The second unbelievable charge!
"Other Uma Musume are starting to respond as well!
"Seiun Sky continues pressing forward! Bright Emblem is also making her move!
"Manhattan Cafe has activated! Satono Crown begins to slide wide! Duramente follows closely behind!
"But!
"The gap is still widening!
"Four lengths… five lengths… six lengths!
"Kitasan Black's advantage continues to grow!
"Into the final bend!
"Kitasan Black is the first to enter the final bend!
"Who will claim the crown in the first race of the Classic Triple Crown, the Satsuki Sho?!"