A Troubling Beginning

The sun had begun to slant, and the intense summer heat had eased somewhat.

It was four-thirty in the afternoon in Mitsuishi.

"...Understood. Please proceed as you see fit. If things go smoothly here, I may head over myself when the time comes."

After replying, he hung up.

"Is it something in the United States?"

Though his tone was calm, Zepp's eyes darted around like those of an overly curious cat.

"That's right. It's Better Next Time's schedule for this year."

How about trying for the Breeders' Cup—

Thanks to Better Next Time's fairly strong momentum at the Jeju Invitation Stakes, trainer Reed had made that suggestion over a transoceanic call.

Naturally, they would not be aiming for the fiercely competitive Classic.

The Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint—the race distance varied according to the host venue.

At Churchill Downs, this year's Breeders' Cup host, the Turf Sprint would be run over the shortest distance: five furlongs.

"It'll be a race that depends heavily on luck, and I think that kid and his rider are both fairly lucky."

It was not as though that reasoning had convinced him, but after comparing the list of North American graded races Reed had sent over, he quickly agreed to a schedule centered on the Breeders' Cup.

After all, there were only a handful of turf sprint stakes races in North America, and once fillies-only races were excluded, the number became pitifully small.

Besides, Better Next Time's four-hundred-dollar lifetime Breeders' Cup nomination fee had already been paid when he was a foal.

Once that was confirmed, he breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Thus, the year's route toward the Breeders' Cup was set, with the next race being the six-furlong turf Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint, a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series qualifying race.

Judging by the schedule,