Oguri Cap's outward move to create space was quickly noticed by Fujimasa March, who glanced back along the curve.
"What's she doing? Going to the outer lane is a waste of effort," she thought, confused.
The Kasamatsu turn was short—barely two hundred meters—and the centrifugal force there was significant. Fujimasa March quickly refocused on maintaining her lead.
"Never mind. I just need to keep my advantage until the end," she told herself.
From the stands, Kitahara watched his trainee gallop forward, no longer paying attention to Oguri Cap. Yet instead of relief, he felt unease tightening in his chest.
"Even though Fujimasa March is in ideal condition, why can't I shake the feeling I shouldn't ignore Oguri Cap?" He scratched his head, frustrated.
His gaze drifted toward Shuta An, who remained calm, eyes fixed on the gray filly.
"An-san doesn't look nervous at all… is he hiding something?" Kitahara frowned. "I wonder if Fujimasa March can hold out until the end."
A twinge of regret crossed his face. "I should have prepared a trump card for Fujimasa March…"
But even as he thought it, he knew he wouldn't have known what to prepare.
"I still have so much to learn. I should buy more books when I get home."
Meanwhile, on the track, although Oguri Cap had moved outward through the turn and sacrificed the inner lane, no one took advantage of the opening. For one, the Kasamatsu Umamusume had little idea how to counter centrifugal force. And anyone with eyes could see that the sand on the inner track was thicker than on the outer lanes—thicker sand meant slower speed. Every racer knew that much.
Of course, race positioning was never absolute. Shuta An knew this well, but for the level of opponents Oguri Cap was facing today, complex tactics weren't necessary.
"I'll need to start incorporating that later," he murmured, eyes never leaving Oguri Cap.
As Fujimasa March exited the turn to enter the final straight, her body shifted outward involuntarily. Rather than fight it, she let the motion carry her.
Then realization struck her like lightning.
"So that's it! She knew I'd drift outward when exiting the turn—she created space to avoid being blocked during her sprint!"
Turning her head left, she saw Oguri Cap clearly in her line of sight.
In that instant, Fujimasa March made her judgment: "I can't stop her sprint."
Fine. Then let's compete in a straight run. The gray filly abandoned her interception plan entirely. "Then let's see whose burst is stronger!"
Though she had led from the start, the short 800-meter race meant her stamina was still intact.
"In such a short race, once you seize the lead, no one behind can catch up!"—that was Kitahara's mantra, and Fujimasa March's belief.
"I won't lose in the sprint either!" she vowed.
Lowering her center of gravity, her upper body almost parallel to the ground, Fujimasa March became a flying arrow, slicing through the air toward the finish line two hundred meters ahead.
"So fast!" Berno Light exclaimed when she noticed Fujimasa March beginning her final sprint.
"Can Oguri catch up?" She clenched her fists, secretly anxious for her friend.
"Oguri Cap will be fine." Shuta An saw through Berno Light's concern and reassured her. "In terms of explosive power, no Racehorse Girl in the entire Kasamatsu Tracen Academy has undergone more rigorous training than the two of you."
"The weekly slope-road practice at the shrine isn't for nothing," he added.
At Kasamatsu, most registered Uma Musume possessed only mediocre aptitude. Oguri Cap, as a naturally gifted individual, had also exerted far more effort than her peers at the academy. If even that was not enough for her to win, then Shuta An truly could not comprehend it.
Oguri Cap was the first to notice Fujimasa March's surge—and the first to respond.
"It's my turn to sprint," she reminded herself inwardly.
Although Shuta An had not specifically taught her what kind of gait or rhythm to maintain during a sprint, Oguri Cap trusted her instincts:
"Tighten my muscles, take longer strides, and use every ounce of strength in my body to drive my legs. Because the friction on this track is low, I need to apply force properly through my ankles—spring forward with each landing and channel all my energy into pushing ahead."
Relying on her innate talent and the explosive power honed through Kasamatsu's unique slope-road training, Oguri Cap drew neck and neck with Fujimasa March one hundred meters before the finish line.
"How is this possible?!" Fujimasa March thought she had already given everything, yet the image of Oguri Cap in her peripheral vision grew clearer and closer. "My goal is to dominate the Tokai Derby—how can I lose to another Racehorse Girl in my debut race?!"
She pushed herself with all her might, straining to squeeze out every last bit of hidden strength to maintain her fragile lead.
In contrast, Oguri Cap felt increasingly relaxed as she ran.
"Trainer's training really works. Whether it's the slope-road drills or the chases with Berno Light—everything I practiced is helping in today's race." Gratitude filled her heart. "I wonder if Mom is listening to the broadcast."
She glanced at Fujimasa March, whom she was gradually overtaking on her right. "Mom, please wait a little longer! I'll win this race soon!"
In the next instant, Oguri Cap accelerated again.
"Trainer said we'll conquer the Central together! We won't remain stuck in races like this!" Her expression hardened with resolve as she swung her legs with full force, her ankles straining to propel her forward.
"Overtake her! Overtake her!" Shuta An shouted, pumping his fists from the stands. "Oguri Cap! Now! Pass her and claim our first victory!"
"Oguri Cap crosses the finish line!" the live commentator cried as the race ended.
"0:49.8." The display board lit up with the winning time.