Long before the starting gate countdown began...
The cold, arrogant Big Red Monster was already deep in her final calculations.
In the past, after being bumped by the Uma Musume in the adjacent gate during her debut race—and armed with absolute confidence in herself—she had deliberately broken late.
But now, facing two legends—The Radiant Knight, Nearl, and Flightline—Secretariat wasn't arrogant enough to believe she could break late and still easily defeat them.
As the number two gate, almost on the innermost part of the track, logic dictated that a clean break would give her a massive advantage.
Conversely, if she broke poorly and started late as usual, not only would she lose that edge—she'd be stuck at a disadvantage, just like The Radiant Knight way out in the widest gate.
The reason was simple: this course was known for its long final stretch and firmer track surface.
On such a track, the outside lanes offered little acceleration benefit, while the inside lanes, with their shorter distance, held a much greater advantage.
Every Uma Musume on the track understood this. With over a dozen competitors, most would surge forward immediately, fighting for position along the inside.
Doing so would box in a late-breaking Secretariat, trapping her in the middle or even at the back—stuck in a "pocket."
Once hemmed in by the pack, with rivals ahead and to the sides, what could she do? Even with all her transcendent skill, she couldn't just plow through all of them, could she?
"In a normal race, breaking late wouldn't matter. I could hang back, angle outward, and start my rally early from the outside."
"At worst, I'd win by fewer lengths, but I'd still win."
"But this race… is different!"
Listening to the countdown, Secretariat knew Flightline was in gate one to her left, and Nearl was in the outermost gate to her right.
Flightline, with her strong inside position, and Nearl—who'd already claimed the outside rallying lane Secretariat might need!
Facing two legends like them, if she were arrogant enough to break late, Secretariat knew her chances of winning would shrink dramatically.
So… this time, she couldn't afford any hesitation. She had to overcome the shadow of her debut race and throw everything she had into this battle, just to stand a chance against Nearl.
Even though The Radiant Knight was her junior, the pressure she exerted was immense—greater even than her old rival Flightline.
Up against a monster like that, plus a formidable opponent like Flightline, Secretariat didn't think she had the right to be cocky, to break late and try to rally.
In a tense, chaotic top-level showdown, the smallest mistake could mean defeat.
In world-class G1 races like the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe or the Epsom Derby, the winning margin was often within a length or two.
Breaking late was like spotting your rivals a head start—a length or more right out of the gate.
Secretariat refused to let a late start be the reason she lost a close one. She wouldn't allow it. Better to eliminate that risk from the very beginning.
She had no taste for "close defeats," no patience for later sighs of "If only I had…!"
Win big, or lose big—no in-between.
"Hah…"
The tall, crimson-haired girl stood like an unshakable mountain, her breathing steady, her expression imposing.
She hadn't forgotten the promise she'd made to the senior Man o' War before the race.
—That she would defeat Nearl, and enter the Dream Cup as the top contender, the strongest in history!
Only by winning this Breeders' Cup could she earn the right to be the first pick for the Dream Cup.
"Then let's go—!!"
Just because Secretariat always broke late didn't mean she lacked gate speed. In the past, she simply hadn't needed it to win!
But now that a clean break was crucial, she'd hold nothing back. No more worrying, no more hesitation.
She was going to give Flightline and Nearl a little… [surprise] out of the gate!
And then! The countdown ended, the gates flew open.
In the fleeting moment right after the break, the race immediately entered a strange and unusual phase. Most of the Uma Musume were caught off guard, stunned by the start of one particular runner.
Gate one: Flightline.
Gate two: Secretariat.
Usually, on a fast track, the inside three gates in a race with a long stretch run produced winners far more often than the outside gates.
So, in theory, Flightline—one of the three great legends—already held a decent advantage from the start.
As for Secretariat? Her habit of breaking late after that debut race was famous worldwide. It was a defining, much-discussed trait: she always started slow, yet always found a way to win.
No doubt, [breaking late] was a flaw. Its only upside was avoiding early traffic, but the energy and strength needed to close the gap were immense.
By any measure, breaking late was high-cost, low-reward. Yet Secretariat always won anyway—one reason the public admired and respected her raw ability.
So for this race… even from the prime number two gate, most people quietly assumed Secretariat was somewhat wasting the position.
Some even thought her inside draw might backfire, leaving her trapped.
But now—!!
What was this?!
Beside Flightline, a bold crimson figure burst forth—majestic and imposing as the heavens, her efficiency rivaling even that of Flightline on the innermost part.
Secretariat… the perpetual late-starter, was off in a flash!!
The sight left Flightline stunned. The younger fillies watching the inside monsters break were wide-eyed, utterly shocked.
Even up in the stands, countless dirt-racing fans—whether supporters of Big Red or Pegasus enthusiasts cheering for Nearl—gaped in disbelief.
"Wh-what's going on? Big Red didn't break late?"
"No way, in her whole career, she's never broken cleanly!"
"Not only isn't she late, she broke perfectly—just as sharp as Flightline!"
"It's like the problem student suddenly caught up to the top of the class overnight! How is that possible?!"
"Yes! Miss Secretariat's chances were already high, but this just bumped them up another level—a perfect break from the inside gate!"
"What about The Radiant Knight? Her gate was so bad. With this shift, she must be in trouble."
From the ordinary spectators to many retired Uma Musume, the air was thick with surprise and excited chatter.
Secretariat—already seen as a legend beyond legends—had shattered the chains of her late starts, pushing herself even further!
Just how formidable would she be now?!
--+--
On the dirt track, along the inside.
"Come on, Flightline."
"Don't think you'll get away easily. I won't let this chance slip."
Having broken with flawless speed, Secretariat fixed her cold crimson eyes on Flightline in the innermost lane.
Like a relentless bolt of lightning, her fierce figure shot straight for the lead!
This early surge wasn't some impulsive move.
Nowhere in all of America could you find an Uma Musume with more experience racing Flightline than Secretariat.
After all… through Lin Anran, they'd known each other for a long time.
Secretariat, gifted and powerful, and the first of them to debut, had naturally become Flightline's preferred training partner.
They'd raced enough to know each other inside and out.
Flightline, whose physical strength was noticeably lower than other legendary Uma Musume, always avoided leaving it to a final sprint. She excelled at building a lead mid-race or even earlier, stretching her advantage by several lengths.
And with the ideal inside gate and a long final stretch that worked against a late charge, this course maximized Flightline's preferred style.
So—Secretariat would crush that fantasy right here!
"I'll be the one to erase your illusions."
Having made her choice, the crimson girl became like a nightmare deity. With incredibly swift steps, she began to accelerate—right out of the gate.
Thud!
Thud!!
Her hooves pounded the dirt, kicking up spray from the firm surface, leaving deep, powerful prints in her wake.
Secretariat… was already kicking into gear!
Flightline, usually so dominant early, found her advantage neutralized. Against a fast-breaking Secretariat, she couldn't easily build the front-running lead she wanted.
In mere moments, Flightline from gate one and Secretariat from gate two were side-by-side, leading the field along the inside!
"This… this is!!"
"Unbelievable—I never thought I'd see Secretariat break perfectly in my lifetime! And against me?!"
"Ugh… Is Big Red cheating now? Did the great demon queen remove her final seal and go all out?"
"What a magnificent, terrifying sight. I wish this were a nightmare, not a race I'm actually in."
More than one competing Uma Musume had just finished fighting for the inside position.
But their hopes of boxing Secretariat in, of keeping her from an early acceleration, were already crumbling.
That imposing crimson figure was now galloping with breathtaking grace and power—right at the front of them all!
Many found it hard to believe. The Big Red Monster, Secretariat, who'd handicapped herself race after race by starting late, as if under a self-imposed seal…
Now, with that seal broken and her full power unleashed, holding the absolute advantage of the inside lane… what kind of terrifying performance would she show?!
And as they watched, startled and uneasy, the next moment brought a sensation even more overwhelming—a vast, monumental pressure that seemed to engulf the entire course.
[Domain: Activate!!!]
Secretariat's zone swept across the wide track.
The Big Red Monster had activated her proud zone right from the start—adding a blazing new torch to a race already set for chaos with multiple front-runners.
You could say that right from the break, the race pace had already reached the [chaotic] level usually seen in the final stretch—or even earlier.
And then, in the very next instant—!
That blazing crimson figure at the very front surged past Flightline, the seemingly delicate but shockingly powerful presence on the innermost rail, no longer running parallel but embarking on her unprecedented [escape]!
The next-generation Big Red Monster, successor to Man o' War, was poised to use this very race to cement her title as the greatest of all time, surpassing even the original!!
--+--
On the vast racetrack, the struggle emerged within mere seconds of the gates flying open.
The front-running group alone boasted no fewer than four or five Uma Musume—a number that would have constituted over half the field in previous editions of the Breeders' Cup!
And these few Uma Musume who had chosen front-running tactics, whether in their stride or their formidable aura, were far beyond what you'd normally see in an ordinary GI race.
Yet, in the face of Secretariat's domain, they were all firmly suppressed.
The race had only just begun, but the pace was already fiercely intense. It was so fast, right from the start, that it put many Uma Musume on edge, forcing them into a faster-than-expected, beyond-specification opening pace.
But…
It still wasn't enough!
Two lengths!
Three lengths!
In the blink of an eye, Secretariat had already opened up a clear lead and was continuing to extend it with an overwhelming, ferocious momentum.
Keep in mind, Flightline in gate one was herself a notoriously fast starter, adept at leading or even 'super-leading'—controlling the pace from the very front, building up a lead to dominate the entire field!
And yet, the Big Red Monster, Secretariat, had already put a significant gap on Flightline! And obviously, Flightline herself must have already opened a huge gap on the main pack behind!
As for your conventional front-running Uma Musume, they were now relegated to third place, trailing by five or six lengths.
And all of this was happening before they'd even reached the first turn.
--+--
Second place, Flightline.
A slight frown creased Flightline's brow as a wave of intense unease washed over her.
Even as a legendary Uma Musume, intimately familiar with Secretariat, she never imagined she'd see the day—a flawless performance from Secretariat in an official race!
Usually, the more monstrous an Uma Musume, the more likely they were to have seemingly obvious, baffling weaknesses.
For instance, Frankel's poor self-control, sometimes deviating from pre-race plans. Or Secretariat's perennial habit of being slow out of the gate.
This weakness might have stemmed… from their own domineering, peerless arrogance—perhaps not an incurable ailment, but simply because past opponents weren't worth the effort to fix it.
And when Frankel faced Platinum, she'd been absolutely perfect, no less impressive than her predecessor, Sea the Stars.
But now… Big Red was also flawless? Not only was her history of slow starts—over a dozen races' worth—not repeated, but her gate break was now on par with Flightline's own?!
"We've had so many training races… Secretariat never showed such a dramatically improved break."
"Did her first race against Nearl alone make her restrain and break that habit?"
"Damn it!!!"
For the proud Flightline, it felt like a severe blow to her pride.
For someone with a competitive spirit so fierce she'd rather win a single race by a massive, dominating margin every few months than win multiple races by narrow margins, she always sought the most exhilarating, absolute victory.
But Secretariat… she broke her own habit in her very first race against Nearl? Did something she'd never done for her?
"So now… do I accelerate and chase?"
Ahead of Flightline, that crimson figure, in that moment of mental haze, seemed so powerful she felt like a demon king dominating everything!
Even with her domain active, Flightline knew Secretariat hadn't even activated her domain skill yet, and she was already this terrifying.
This was a power completely different from the Secretariat in Flightline's memories, now unveiled for all to see, unmistakably aimed at challenging The Radiant Knight, Nearl.
"All those training races… you mean you could beat me without even going all out?"
"Big Red, you…"
But after only a moment's hesitation, Flightline made her choice.
In the next instant, Flightline poured on the power, unleashing the acceleration unique to a super-leader.
--+--
[Domain: Activate!!!]
[Passive: The longer it remains active, the recovery period doubles, placing immense strain on the body. While active, domain strength is moderately increased, and skill effects are improved moderately.]
[Unwavering Resolve: Affects domains weaker than her own. Seals domain skills of opponents based on comparative momentum, from slight to significant degree. The greater the influence over the entire field, the more her own stamina recovers.]
[Stronger After Rest: The longer the period without racing, her acceleration and explosive power receive a minor to slight increase, and…]
[Leap of the Extreme: When in the first half of the race, stamina…]
--+--
In stark contrast to the Big Red Monster, Flightline chose… to employ her skills early, holding nothing back!
Two of the top three legendary Uma Musume, both holding the advantage of the inner rail, had now unleashed their super-leads!
[There it is! The much-anticipated super-lead, but… the monster leading the pack isn't Flightline on the inside, nor is it Nearl from the disadvantaged outer post.]
[Who would have thought? From her very first career race where things went awry, up until her last outing, through over twenty hard-fought races… the Big Red Monster!]
[For the first time in her career, she has initiated a super-lead, has overtaken Flightline, and is now charging alone down the track after the first turn.]
The commentator's voice, active since the gates opened, continued to narrate and explain the unfolding situation.
Suddenly, the commentator paused, then continued with a slightly expectant tone.
[And Flightline, not one to be outdone, will never easily surrender the advantage of leading on the inside, especially not to a rival known for her exceptional stamina and explosive power—Secretariat.]
[The battle unfolding from the very start is already drastically different from what most spectators predicted!]
[And although that shining knight, due to her outer post disadvantage, is positioned further back, we believe every Uma Musume on this track is mentally prepared for the arrival of The Radiant Knight at their side.]
[Because standing before Uma Musume like Flightline, Prove Out, and Secretariat is the legend who reached the pinnacle faster than any in history, the only legend in dirt racing history with a victory over another legend!]
--+--
On the dirt track!
In the leading positions, the current 'Giant Killer' Prove Out was watching the space beside her.
She had once defeated a strangely off-form Secretariat, only to be avenged later, but she wasn't getting much mention now.
This Prove Out, with her unique record and incredibly high ceiling, wouldn't miss this Breeders' Cup Classic. An Uma Musume of her caliber, strong enough to leave her name in history, was almost always a worthy favorite to win the Breeders' Cup.
But in this race, against those three legends, anyone else could only serve as a supporting character!
Yet, Prove Out wasn't focusing all her attention on defending against the leading Secretariat and Flightline ahead. It was as if she was waiting for something.
This killer's gate position was in the middle, and she had chosen a forward spot slightly to the outside, not fixated on the inner rail.
'If it's that monster…'
'She'll probably be here before long, right?'
In Prove Out's view, it wouldn't be long before a monster from the outside would overtake the surrounding Uma Musume and charge straight for the two leading legends.
At that point, the disadvantage of being stuck on the inside would outweigh the advantage.
In other words, in Prove Out's eyes, the current Flightline and Secretariat were indeed terrifyingly strong, both worthy legends.
Especially Big Red—her strength was probably even greater than Prove Out had anticipated.
But… the one she feared more was…
—The Radiant Knight, Margaret Nearl!!
Thus, Prove Out's sharp gaze was fixed on the leading Secretariat, but the corner of her eye seemed perpetually ready to guard against the space beside her, further out.
But suddenly, her mind seemed to haze for a moment, as if she sensed some terrifying monster approaching.
Prove Out seemed to perceive a certain aura; her pupils contracted sharply!
'Is it finally time?'
Under the blazing sun, even the brightest stars, the most fearsome demon kings, seemed to pale slightly?!
In that instant, Prove Out sensed a deadly danger approaching from behind!
A vast and razor-sharp aura was constantly expanding, even covering the entire field, easily coalescing to a level surpassing ordinary domains.
What domineering confidence! This was absolutely not the daring or aura mastery possessed by a world-class Uma Musume.
'This is… footsteps from behind? The one accelerating is indeed on the outside!'
Secretariat was up front, so the monster accelerating so unreasonably from behind could only be—
That Radiant Knight who aimed to be the strongest of all generations?!
An unusual determination flickered in Prove Out's blazing eyes.
Dubbed the Giant Killer, she had already crushed more than one or two monsters stronger than herself when least expected.
She had even beaten Secretariat once, albeit when Secretariat was off-form. But only Nearl… she had never beaten.
Now, she would exact her revenge here!
'This aura… So, she's going to blow the pace wide open infinitely, just like in the Pacific Classic, isn't she?'
Then bring it on!
This time, even legendary Uma Musume were bound to fall—at least two, maybe even three?
Wouldn't it… be fine if they were Big Red and The Radiant Knight?!
--+--
The outer path.
The tall, golden-haired maiden in pure white ceremonial wear, her brilliant eyes gazed into the distance at the two super-leading Uma Musume who had both activated their domains.
Flightline!
Secretariat!
They were truly the formidable rivals she had anticipated.
Nearl did not care for the feeling of trailing.
So now… let's turn this race on its head!
In the next instant, behind Nearl, a pair of sacred, luminous wings seemed to manifest and spread wide.
The Pegasus was about to accelerate!
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
There should be... around 70+ advanced chapters?
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.