Chapter 121.
"Wasn't I awesome?"
After returning to the jockey's room, Shuta An grinned, high-fived Yutaka Take, and asked.
"You really were awesome. I honestly thought pushing that hard would burn her out."
Yutaka Take said with genuine admiration.
"I definitely don't know the dirt tracks here as well as you do, Ann-san."
"Next up is the Breeders' Cup Distaff. Take-san, let's have a great race out there."
Shuta An said, clenching his fist and holding it out.
Yutaka Take smiled and bumped fists with him.
"Even though Erin Bird is running on dirt for the first time, she did really well in training. Watch out, Ann-san."
"No problem." the young man smiled even brighter. "I believe there isn't a single mare out there who can beat Hokuto Vega on dirt right now."
Shuta An had absolute confidence in his partner, the "Queen of Sand." just like he always did with Tokai Teio.
In the Breeders' Cup Distaff, Hokuto Vega got starting gate 2. Shuta An didn't hesitate and took the lead right away.
Erin Bird, starting from gate 3, followed closely under Yutaka Take's guidance, ready to challenge Hokuto Vega.
Pat Day, riding Heavenly Prize from gate 1, saw Yutaka Take making his move after Shuta An took the lead. He decided to let Heavenly Prize tuck in behind Erin Bird, hoping to swoop in at the end.
But the race didn't go how Pat Day or Yutaka Take expected. As Hokuto Vega rounded the final turn, Shuta An tapped her left side with his whip. Hokuto Vega immediately shifted gears, instantly pulling away from Erin Bird.
Yutaka Take hesitated for a second, deciding not to push Erin Bird to match Hokuto Vega's speed, wanting to save her energy for the final stretch.
However, once they hit the final straight, the gap between Hokuto Vega and everyone else just kept getting bigger and bigger.
Yutaka Take tried to push Erin Bird, but she just couldn't speed up—she had used up too much energy trying to keep up with Hokuto Vega earlier.
Pat Day pushed hard too, but Hokuto Vega was flying, and Heavenly Prize just couldn't close the gap.
As for Sky Beauty's team, who had talked big before the race about getting revenge for last year, they could only watch as last year's undefeated Triple Tiara winner dropped to the very back, not even able to catch the second-to-last horse, Link River.
"HOKUTO VEGA IS 10 LENGTHS AHEAD! SHUTA AN IS ALREADY CELEBRATING! NONE OF THE RIVALS ARE EVEN CLOSE! HOKUTO VEGA SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDS HER TITLE! SHE'S THE SECOND MARE TO DO IT AFTER BAYAKOA!"
After a quick chat with Hokuto Vega's team, Shuta An headed back to the jockey's room with Yutaka Take, carrying his gear.
"Not your best work." Shuta An teased Yutaka Take, trying to look stern. "Take-san still hasn't figured out these dirt races."
"I was just thinking about it, and yeah, I shouldn't have chased Hokuto Vega like that. The difference in speed was too big; sitting further back might have worked better."
Yutaka Take said with a wry smile and a shrug.
"But sitting back definitely wouldn't have beaten Hokuto Vega." Shuta An pointed out, spreading his hands. "Thinking about it that way, Take-san's choice was pretty bold."
"You should have seen Pat Day. When Hokuto Vega crossed the finish line, he looked completely defeated."
Yutaka Take chuckled.
"Makes sense." Shuta An wasn't surprised. "He was the third favorite, and he lost by a lot. He's got some explaining to do to his team."
"You two still have three more races together. If you win just one more, you'll totally beat him."
Yutaka Take sat down, took a sip of water, and sighed.
"I'm not in the next race, so I'll just sit back and enjoy the show."
Shuta An, however, didn't drink any water, worried about his weight for the next race.
But to him, winning three races wasn't a total victory against Pat Day—it had to be 5-0. He wanted Pat Day to know what a shutout felt like.
In the upcoming Breeders' Cup Mile, Shuta An, riding Johan Quatz, finished second, just a length behind Barathea, ridden by Frankie Dettori.
Yutaka Take, riding Ski Paradise, had a bad start and ended up eighth.
"Even though the top two broke the track record, it's still a bummer not to win."
Shuta An shook his head, sighing.
"Pat Day came in ninth, right behind me."
Yutaka Take noted.
"That's okay, the horse he was riding wasn't very popular, so it's no big deal."
Shuta An shrugged.
"Wait, he was on the fifth favorite, and you were on the sixth, right?" Yutaka Take looked at his friend, a little confused. "Should you really be saying that?"
"It's fine! In the next race, I'm on the favorite, and he's on the second favorite." Shuta An smiled. "And I even snatched the horse I'm riding right out from under him."
"Then he's probably pretty mad."
Yutaka Take guessed, putting himself in Pat Day's shoes.
"I hope he gives it his all!"
Shuta An perked up at that. It's no fun racing against someone who isn't trying their hardest.
For the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Shuta An had taken the mount on Timber Country from Pat Day. Because of that, he knew he absolutely had to win.
"If I lose, even if I win later to make it 4-1, I'll still be really annoyed."
Shuta An thought to himself.
Heading out to the track, Pat Day glared at Shuta An's back. Timber Country was a horse he really liked, and losing the ride stung. Pat Day had already made up his mind: even if Timber Country's team asked him to ride next year, he wouldn't say yes.
"I might have lost the first few races, but I'm definitely going to beat Shuta An this time!"
Pat Day's competitive spirit was burning bright.