Recaps

Tokai Teio arranged university department support and paperwork to help Anjing Zhen resolve the drone’s technical and approval issues. That evening, Kitasan Black presented him with a little notebook she had secretly prepared.

• Tokai Teio proposed consulting Berno Light, Vodka, and Air Shakur about the drone’s hardware and software.
• Tokai Teio completed the applications for drone use, and Mejiro McQueen prepared to provide Anjing Zhen with the department heads’ contact information.
• Anjing Zhen considered how his prior contacts and the drone’s creator, Weijie Kuma, could help attract the university researchers’ interest.
• Anjing Zhen returned to the Trainer office, finished his tasks, and continued Kitasan Black’s training that evening.
• Kitasan Black handed Anjing Zhen a little notebook she had secretly gathered, and he accepted it while pretending to be curious.

Kitasan Black gave Anjing Zhen a notebook of research on his upcoming opponents, hoping to help ease the pressure he faced over her results and their contract. Touched by her concern, Anjing Zhen told her that her investigation had given him a new way to assess racehorses’ temperaments.

• Kitasan Black showed Anjing Zhen a notebook of research she had gathered on his next-race opponents, and Vodka asked to look too.
• Kitasan Black explained that she wanted to help Anjing Zhen because she knew his upcoming G2 and her contract’s performance expectations put him under pressure.
• Anjing Zhen considered the commercial forces behind racing and worried that Kitasan Black’s family or Ono Trading Company could end their arrangement if she failed to achieve ideal results.
• Anjing Zhen felt moved by Kitasan Black’s sincere concern and said her investigation had given him a useful new approach to studying temperament and psychology.
• Kitasan Black blushed when Anjing Zhen revealed he had spotted her hiding in the grass with her backside sticking up while he tested the drone, and Vodka objected to his teasing description.

Anjing Zhen explained the purpose of Kitasan Black’s investigation and led her and Vodka through positioning training. Afterward, Vodka praised Kitasan Black’s progress and described Yamato’s instinctive, unconventional front-running, then asked Anjing Zhen to confirm that Kitasan Black should focus on her solid fundamentals.

• Anjing Zhen decided to speak candidly with Kitasan Black after seeing the care she put into her investigation and training.
• Anjing Zhen instructed Kitasan Black and Vodka to complete six sets of Early Position Gain training.
• Kitasan Black and Vodka finished the drills, and Anjing Zhen praised Kitasan Black’s performance.
• Vodka told Kitasan Black that her training-based front-running differed from Yamato’s instinctive and unconventional racing style.
• Vodka reassured Kitasan Black that her solid foundation was enough for now and asked Anjing Zhen to agree.

After Satono Crown shared imported milk with Kitasan Black, she noticed Kitasan was worried about qualifying for the Spring Stakes and asked about her absent Trainer. Kitasan explained that he had gone to the University Department, while Crown left her own gloomy feelings unspoken.

• After class, Satono Crown gave Kitasan Black imported milk, and Kitasan traded her bottle for a banana-flavored one.
• Kitasan asked whether the foreigners at Crown's Yayoi Sho celebration had all been Trainers, then worried about the Spring Stakes and her chances of entering the Satsuki Sho.
• Crown noticed Kitasan had kept looking toward the stands for her Trainer and teased her about missing his usual presence.
• Kitasan considered asking Crown about her gloomy expression but held back, then told her that her Trainer had gone to the University Department.
• Crown guessed that Kitasan's Trainer was there to learn about training research and did not ask further questions.

Satono Crown reflected on Anjing Zhen’s racing instincts while Kitasan Black described her plans to train at home before the Spring Stakes. Two days later, Anjing Zhen ran into Kitasan Black speaking broken English with the foreign Trainer Chris and introduced himself.

• Satono Crown recalled that Anjing Zhen’s race strategies seemed either exceptionally perceptive or lucky, though she privately favored the former explanation.
• Kitasan Black told Satono Crown she planned to do light running at home instead of joining her friends, determined to prepare for the Spring Stakes and meet Crown at the Satsuki Sho.
• Two days later, Anjing Zhen spotted Kitasan Black trying to explain racing to a foreign woman near Treisen Academy.
• Kitasan Black introduced Anjing Zhen to Trainer Chris, and he greeted Chris while identifying himself and Kitasan Black.

Anjing Zhen and Kitasan Black learned that Chris was a French trainer who had won a European G1 at age twenty, inspiring Kitasan Black to aim for a G1 victory that would make Anjing Zhen the youngest G1 trainer. As they prepared for the Spring Stakes, Anjing Zhen assessed Kitasan Black’s strengths and her difficulty controlling her bursts of speed.

• Chris revealed that she spoke fluent Japanese, said her native language was French, and left after greeting Anjing Zhen and Kitasan Black.
• Kitasan Black explained that Chris had been heading to the URA Association, and Anjing Zhen said Chris had won a European G1 at twenty and was likely collecting a long-term trainer’s license.
• After learning Anjing Zhen was eighteen, Kitasan Black vowed to win the Spring Stakes and Satsuki Sho and make him the youngest G1 trainer.
• Anjing Zhen and Kitasan Black went to the academy for training less than a week before the Spring Stakes.
• Anjing Zhen reviewed Kitasan Black’s strong fundamentals, rhythm, endurance, strength, and short-distance explosiveness, while noting that she struggled to control her burst speed and conserve stamina.

Kitasan Black wondered why she still could not beat Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka in their practice races, despite her hard work. Daiwa Scarlet praised Kitasan Black’s drive to surpass stronger rivals and told her to finish training with them before asking Anjing Zhen how to win.

• Anjing Zhen ended a practice set and told Kitasan Black, Daiwa Scarlet, and Vodka to take a short break.
• Kitasan Black thanked her seniors and asked what she was still lacking because she had not beaten either of them in their recent practice races.
• Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka recognized that Kitasan Black wanted to outrun them and teased her about challenging two experienced G1 winners.
• Daiwa Scarlet reassured Kitasan Black that she was not mocking her and praised her for focusing on how to beat strong opponents rather than avoiding the challenge.
• Daiwa Scarlet said that learning how to surpass her and Vodka was Anjing Zhen’s responsibility, but Kitasan Black should finish her training with them first.

After Kitasan Black lost another training race to Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka, she reflected on what she could learn from their tactics. At dinner, she discovered that the seniors planned to cheer for Gold Ship in Osaka, and Anjing Zhen worried about what her connection to Kitasan Black might mean.

• Kitasan Black lost another 1,800-meter training race to Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka, then considered how they had disrupted her rhythm and timed their moves.
• Kitasan Black decided to focus on mastering what she had already learned instead of asking Anjing Zhen about their finishes.
• Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka told Kitasan Black they would miss her race to cheer for an old friend in Osaka.
• Anjing Zhen checked the race schedule, and Kitasan Black and the seniors teased him to guess who they planned to support.
• Anjing Zhen guessed that the old friend was Gold Ship, then worried about Gold Ship's history with Kitasan Black.

Anjing Zhen explained how he identified Gold Ship and learned that she might race alongside Kitasan Black, while Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka planned a reunion surprise for Kitasan. On March 21, Anjing and Kitasan arrived at the academy branch near the racecourse to prepare for their upcoming races.

• Anjing Zhen explained that Gold Ship was the most famous entrant in the Hanshin Daishoten and said he had guessed her identity from the race promotion.
• Daiwa Scarlet described Gold Ship as a talented senior who might race alongside Kitasan Black because she had reached full maturity late.
• Anjing Zhen considered Gold Ship's likely upcoming races and the possibility that she and Kitasan Black could meet at the Arima Kinen.
• Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka told Kitasan Black that they had invited former friends to watch her race as a surprise, and Kitasan promised to do her best.
• On March 21, Anjing Zhen arranged temporary dorm rooms and an office at the academy branch near the racecourse so Kitasan Black could adapt before her race.

Anjing Zhen analyzed Gold Ship’s chances in the Hanshin Daishoten and warned Kitasan Black not to imitate her unusual running style. He then prepared Kitasan Black for her upcoming race, explaining the likely tactics against her and reviewing her opponents.

• Kitasan Black watched Crimson Pure win the Wakaba Stakes and asked Anjing Zhen whether Gold Ship could win the Hanshin Daishoten just as impressively.
• Anjing Zhen judged Gold Ship likely to win because of her long-distance ability and strong record at Hanshin Racecourse, but warned Kitasan Black not to copy her unusual tactics.
• Anjing Zhen explained that Kitasan Black’s Gate 1 draw could leave her vulnerable to gate-blocking and instructed her to keep her rhythm if opponents disrupted her early lead.
• Anjing Zhen reviewed the race’s competitors and focused especially on the popular Futanari Shingang and Noda Gold Foal.

Anjing Zhen explained why he could not guarantee Kitasan Black's victory and why her race plan focused on the early and middle stages. Kitasan Black realized she needed to control the race before her opponents could use their Final Bursts, and left the discussion confident in her understanding.

• Anjing Zhen reviewed Futanari Shingang and Noda Gold as major threats, noting their strengths and race experience.
• Kitasan Black asked why the later parts of her race plans were so simple and whether Anjing Zhen could predict what would happen.
• Anjing Zhen told Kitasan Black he could not guarantee a win because her opponents trained and planned just as seriously as she did.
• Anjing Zhen explained that the complicated opening would be hard to predict, so Kitasan Black should focus on herself and seize control of the race's rhythm.
• Kitasan Black concluded that strong early and middle stages could keep opponents from using their Final Bursts, and Anjing Zhen praised her for understanding.

Kitasan Black prepared carefully for the Spring Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse, following Anjing Zhen’s advice and checking her gear before heading to the Paddock. Anjing Zhen then encountered a Horse Girl hiding by the underground passage exit and recognized her as Special Week.

• Kitasan Black reviewed her notes and confirmed her condition with Anjing Zhen before he left to find a spot in the stands.
• Kitasan Black stretched, checked her racing shoes and outfit, and prepared her number cloths after the announcement summoned the eleventh-race contestants to the Paddock.
• Anjing Zhen noticed someone hiding in the greenery by the underground passage exit and threatened to call the police.
• Special Week sprang out and tried to stop Anjing Zhen from calling, but she fell when he dodged her.
• Anjing Zhen recognized the fallen Horse Girl as Special Week.

Anjing Zhen asked Special Week what had led her to become an outstanding horse girl, hoping to learn how to guide Kitasan Black. Special Week explained that she ran because it made her happy, and the chapter ended as Kitasan Black appeared in the Paddock.

• Special Week signed an autograph for Little Courage and encouraged her ambition to become Japan's number one horse girl.
• Anjing Zhen asked Special Week whether she had always aspired to be Japan's number one and shared his questions about guiding Kitasan Black.
• Special Week recalled her promise to her mother, her friends at the Academy, and the pain and happiness she had experienced through racing.
• Special Week told Anjing Zhen that she had stepped onto the track because she loved running and it brought her joy.
• Special Week spotted Kitasan Black appearing on the screen, and Anjing Zhen gained a better understanding of her appeal.

Anjing Zhen watched Kitasan Black make an awkward entrance before she greeted Special Week, who came to cheer her on. Special Week helped calm Little Kita’s nerves and sent her toward the starting gate with everyone’s support.

• Kitasan Black threw her jacket into the audience during her introduction, then retrieved it and hurried back after apologizing.
• Special Week recalled her own embarrassing debut mistakes while Anjing Zhen explained Little Kita’s earlier blunders.
• Special Week shouted to Kitasan Black from the stands, vaulted over the seats, and hugged her through the railing.
• Special Week congratulated Kitasan Black on her two wins and fastened her bib while sharing how Suzuka had once comforted her before a race.
• Special Week encouraged Kitasan Black to run with everyone supporting her, then noticed she had put her bib on backward.

Kitasan Black steadied her nerves before the Spring Stakes, then learned that Gold Ship had won the Hanshin Daishoten. Gold Ship sent her encouragement through the racecourse broadcast, and Kitasan Black entered the race determined to win.

• Kitasan Black recalled how her preparation and the support of Special Week, her Trainer, and others helped her overcome her anxiety.
• As Kitasan Black waited in the Starting Gate, the crowd and announcer celebrated Gold Ship’s victory in the Hanshin Daishoten.
• Gold Ship appeared on the giant screen, crab-walked for the audience, and heard commentators praise her comeback win.
• Gold Ship addressed Kitasan Black through the broadcast, wished her luck, and promised to hold a victory party.
• Kitasan Black shouted that she would win the Spring Stakes as the announcer called the participants to enter the gates.

Kitasan Black faced Daiwa Miner’s calculated attempt to trap her along the inner lane in the Spring Stakes, but stayed composed and became excited by the strength of her graded-race opponents. As Daiwa Miner prepared to follow the Trainer’s plan, Susan Muse and another runner suddenly surged past her.

• Kitasan Black burst out of the inside gate as Daiwa Miner pressed close and gradually matched her moves toward the inner lane.
• Kitasan Black recognized Daiwa Miner’s positioning as an attempt to target her, but remained calm because Anjing Zhen had prepared her for such tactics.
• Kitasan Black subtly slowed and surveyed the field, while Daiwa Miner wondered why she was not taking an easy chance to seize the lead.
• Daiwa Miner saw Susan Muse accelerate from the left and expected to claim the position behind her.
• A short-haired runner accelerated past Daiwa Miner on her right, leaving her stunned.

Kitasan Black raced in the Spring Stakes using her own rhythm, prompting Special Week to recognize that she was not simply following Susan Muse. Anjing Zhen realized Kitasan Black had already begun to grasp his rare “Slow Escape” strategy as the race continued.

• Susan Muse took the lead early, while Kitasan Black moved into second and the other racers formed a long line behind them.
• Special Week told Anjing Zhen that Kitasan Black was running at her own pace and that the runners behind were following her rhythm.
• Anjing Zhen recalled how Kitasan Black had used the opening scramble to escape Daiwa Miner’s attempt to squeeze her.
• Anjing Zhen explained that Kitasan Black’s “Slow Escape” relied on maintaining a measured lead, reading pursuers, and accelerating when needed.
• Anjing Zhen realized Special Week had understood the strategy behind his instructions to Kitasan Black.

Anjing Zhen explained his Positioning Pressure tactic to Special Week as Kitasan Black followed Susan Muse in the race. Special Week recognized the tactic as Kitasan Black began to make her move.

• Anjing Zhen watched Susan Muse lead Kitasan Black by about three lengths as the field entered the side straight at a slow pace.
• Special Week noted that Susan Muse’s comfortable pace could benefit the closers and questioned whether Kitasan Black would keep following.
• Anjing Zhen recalled how Kitasan Black’s two consecutive wins had helped him earn the respect and advice of prominent Horse Girls.
• Anjing Zhen told Special Week that he had arranged for Kitasan Black to use Positioning Pressure against Susan Muse.
• Special Week gripped the railing and announced that Kitasan Black was making her move.

Kitasan Black surged into the lead in the Spring Stakes and fought off the pursuing runners on the final stretch. She held on to win, securing her third consecutive victory.

• Kitasan Black accelerated on the third turn, overtook Susan Muse, and took the lead.
• Several runners, including Dannong Miaoyin, Noda Gold Colt, and Futanari Shingang, closed in as the pack's pace increased.
• Kitasan Black unleashed another burst of speed on the final turn and widened her lead over Susan Muse and Dannong Miaoyin.
• Futanari Shingang passed Noda Gold Colt and challenged Kitasan Black on the final stretch.
• Kitasan Black faltered as Futanari Shingang drew close, but she crossed the finish line first and won the Spring Stakes for her third straight victory.

After Kitasan Black won her third consecutive race, Anjing Zhen took Special Week to check her post-race condition, then returned with her to watch the Winner's Stage. Kitasan Black's stamina expenditure remained within her limits, and she later performed at the center of the stage.

• Special Week cheered wildly for Kitasan Black's victory, then noticed Anjing Zhen staring at the track with a strained expression.
• Anjing Zhen said he would check Kitasan Black's post-race examination, and Special Week went with him while wondering about his mood and abilities.
• Anjing Zhen reviewed Kitasan Black's examination and found that she had spent more stamina than in her previous races, though her condition remained within safe limits.
• Anjing Zhen encouraged Kitasan Black to rest, then had dinner with Special Week before they returned to the stands.
• The Winner's Stage began, and the announcer introduced Kitasan Black as the next song's center.

After Kitasan Black’s close Spring Stakes victory, Anjing Zhen realized he wanted to support her wholeheartedly and help her win every race. The next day, Kitasan Black hosted Anjing Zhen and her seniors at her enormous Hachioji home, where Gold Ship started an impromptu race across the lawn.

• At Kitasan Black’s Winner’s Stage, Anjing Zhen recalled how narrowly she had beaten Futanari Shingang and recognized the thrill of the race.
• Anjing Zhen reflected that his sense of responsibility had grown into a heartfelt wish to help Kitasan Black win every future race.
• The day after the Spring Stakes, Kitasan Black invited Anjing Zhen, Gold Ship, Daiwa Scarlet, Vodka, and the others to her home for a celebratory gathering.
• Gold Ship, Daiwa Scarlet, and Vodka marveled at the huge lawn and learned that Kitasan Black’s family had several similarly grand residences.
• Gold Ship announced a race across the lawn, then dashed off after counting only to three; Vodka chased after her.

Kitasan Black worried that Trainer Yasui might be angry about her secret weekend training, and Special Week explained why she needed to trust and communicate with her Trainer. Meanwhile, Saburo Kitajima offered Anjing Zhen a share of Uchiage Hanabi's earnings, and Anjing agreed while choosing to focus on guiding Kitasan Black.

• Daiwa Scarlet joined Gold Ship and Vodka in running around while Kitasan Black and Special Week watched.
• Kitasan Black admitted she had trained alone before the Spring Stakes without telling Trainer Yasui, and Special Week explained the risks of unsupervised training.
• Special Week recalled how extra training and neglecting her diet contributed to her poor Kyoto Daishoten result, then urged Kitasan Black to trust her Trainer and speak openly with him.
• Saburo Kitajima thanked Anjing Zhen for helping Kitasan Black and presented documents to share the earnings from Uchiage Hanabi.
• Anjing Zhen accepted the music agreement but said he wanted to focus on guiding Kitasan Black.

Anjing Zhen discussed Kitasan Black’s training costs and administrative workload with Saburo Kitajima, who offered to have Ono Trading Company cover expenses beyond Academy subsidies and handle paperwork. After touring the mansion’s collections, Anjing considered how to improve Kitasan Black’s training plan.

• Saburo Kitajima asked whether Anjing Zhen faced financial pressure from Kitasan Black’s costly training needs.
• Anjing Zhen explained that he could afford the expenses but wanted help with applications and other administrative tasks so he could focus on training Kitasan Black.
• Saburo Kitajima offered to have Ono Trading Company pay costs beyond Academy subsidies and handle documents submitted to the Student Council.
• Anjing Zhen thanked Saburo Kitajima and considered asking him for further help related to a phone call from the previous night.
• Anjing Zhen toured Saburo Kitajima’s mansion and reflected that Kitasan Black’s training plan needed to be optimized with more practice races or official races to assess her abilities.

After Kitasan Black's Spring Stakes victory, Anjing Zhen considered how to advance her training as her abilities improved. At a celebratory Dinner Party, Special Week revealed she would enter the Summer Dream Trophy and offered to help Kitasan Black prepare for the Triple Crown, while Anjing Zhen settled on training races to build her experience before the Satsuki Sho.

• Anjing Zhen concluded that Kitasan Black's stronger abilities required new training methods and decided to discuss his ideas with her at the Dinner Party.
• Saburo Kitajima hosted a large Dinner Party for Kitasan Black's Spring Stakes victory, where Special Week, Gold Ship, Vodka, and Daiwa Scarlet reminisced and teased one another about past Winner's Stages.
• Special Week told the group that she had agreed to compete in the Summer Dream Trophy and planned to help Kitasan Black train for the Triple Crown.
• Anjing Zhen explained that the Dream Trophy was an all-star invitational for famous retired Horse Girls, held twice a year by the URA Association.
• Anjing Zhen considered using training races to improve Kitasan Black's race skills and make up for her opponents' greater experience before the Satsuki Sho.

Anjing Zhen considered using training races to help Kitasan Black prepare for the Triple Crown, and the Summer Dream Trophy offered a chance to learn from retired champions. Gold Ship explained why her Satsuki Sho victory was difficult to teach, then asked Anjing Zhen to suggest how she could help Little Kita.

• Anjing Zhen realized that short training races could let Kitasan Black practice without disrupting Daiwa Scarlet and the others' schedules.
• Special Week offered to share her Triple Crown experience, while Vodka said she and Daiwa Scarlet would have less time for joint runs over the coming week.
• Vodka asked Gold Ship to teach Kitasan Black about the Satsuki Sho, since Gold Ship was the only Horse Girl at the table who had won it.
• Gold Ship described charging through the slippery Inner Lane to win, but said she could not reliably explain or repeat her running style and noted that Kitasan Black was an Escape runner.
• Gold Ship offered to help Kitasan Black and directed the group to hear what Anjing Zhen had to say.