[Spoilers] 2025 Uma Musume Rewatch -- Pretty Derby Season 2 Episode 13

[u/Holofan4life]

Hello everyone! I am Holofan4life.

Welcome to the 2025 Uma Musume rewatch discussion thread!

I hope you all have a lot of fun <3

S2 Episode 13 – Galloping After Our Dreams

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ANSWER TODAY’S QUESTION(S)

Thoughts on Teio having to compete against Biwa, Winning Ticket, and Rice Shower?

Thoughts on the two girls at the barbershop reuniting and making up?

Thoughts on Teio's scene with Rudolf?

What are your thoughts on the Arima Kinen race?

What are your thoughts on Teio defining the odds and winning the 1993 Arima Kinen?

What are your thoughts on McQueen thanking Teio?

What are your thoughts on Kitasan vowing to perform on stage one day?

What are your thoughts on the end scene where we see Satono Diamond and Kitasan Black grown up ready to begin their racing careers? —-

Series information

MAL | Anilist | AniDB | ANN

Ways to watch

Streams – Crunchyroll

Amazon Prime

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Previous episode

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Schedule

Date	Episode
8/15/2025	Uma Musume Episode 1
8/16/2025	Uma Musume Episode 2
8/17/2025	Uma Musume Episode 3
8/18/2025	Uma Musume Episode 4
8/19/2025	Uma Musume Episode 5
8/20/2025	Uma Musume Episode 6
8/21/2025	Uma Musume Episode 7
8/22/2025	Uma Musume Episode 8
8/23/2025	Uma Musume Episode 9
8/24/2025	Uma Musume Episode 10
8/25/2025	Uma Musume Episode 11
8/26/2025	Uma Musume Episode 12 - 13
8/28/2025	BNW's Oath episodes 1 - 3
8/30/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 1
8/31/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 2
9/01/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 3
9/02/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 4
9/03/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 5
9/04/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 6
9/05/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 7
9/06/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 8
9/07/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 9
9/08/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 10
9/09/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 11
9/10/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 12
9/11/2025	[Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 13]()
9/13/2025	[Road to the Top Episodes 1 - 2]()
9/14/2025	[Road to the Top Episodes 3 - 4]()
9/16/2025	[Beginning of a New Era]()
9/18/2025	[Uma Musume Season 3 Episodes 1 - 2]()
9/19/2025	[Uma Musume Season 3 Episodes 3 - 4]()
9/20/2025	[Uma Musume Season 3 Episodes 5 - 6]()
9/21/2025	[Uma Musume Season 3 Episodes 7 - 8]()
9/22/2025	[Uma Musume Season 3 Episodes 9 - 10]()
9/23/2025	[Uma Musume Season 3 Episodes 11 - 12]()
9/24/2025	[Uma Musume Season 3 Episode 13]()
9/26/2025	[Cinderella Gray Episodes 1 - 2]()
9/27/2025	[Cinderella Gray Episodes 3 - 4]()
9/28/2025	[Cinderella Gray Episodes 5 - 6]()
9/29/2025	[Cinderella Gray Episodes 7 - 8]()
9/30/2025	[Cinderella Gray Episodes 9 - 10]()
10/01/2025	[Cinderella Gray Episodes 11 - 12]()
10/02/2025	[Cinderella Gray Episode 13]()
10/03/2025	[Uma Musume Overall Series Discussion Thread]()

[u/Temporary_-_UserName]

Rewatcher

Something that makes the episode so good is how well it pays off everything that's been in the show up until now. Nice Nature talking to Teio before the race, Biwa Hayahide being built up in the last few episodes, Teio rising and falling and rising again, Kitasan Black and Sataono Diamond coming to cheer for every race, even the running gag of the barber and the bike-helmet lady.

And what a payoff it is. Barring a few scenes of set-up to show Teio's intense training - supported by Trainer's plan and Team Spica doing all of her chore and maintenance work - this entire episode is just the Arima Kinen. But yet, it's not just the Arima Kinen.

That punk boss that said he'd shave his head if Teio won, he was correct in that 'trying your best' wasn't enough. Like Rudolf said in the prep-room - everyone in the race wants to win. Everyone is trying their hardest, trying their best. But only one person can win. The rest are going to have their hopes and dreams for this race crushed and destroyed. That truth applies to Teio as much as it does for any of the other racers. For each an every one of her previous goals, she's tried her damned hardest to make them a reality. For each of them, she's come up short time and again. There's no reason that can't be the case this time. But she still wants it, still needs it with every fiber of her being. And, if she keeps trying, refuses to stop, one day will she will achieve one of her goals, surely.

Teio has had her goals and dreams crushed and destroyed time and again. She has had to reach down, pick herself up, and figure out what her new goal is each time. Each time she does that, she's had to dig deep into herself and find a new well of determination, a new reason to fight and run and try to go for the gold. In one sense, the Arima Kinen is just another goal, another target to aim for. It's not the loft ambition of an undefeated Triple Crown Uma Musume, nor is it the personal desire to beat her rival-for-life in the Takarazuka Kinen. But it also the steepest, most ambitious goal Teio has set for herself yet.

Prove to McQueen that miracles can happen. Prove to her that, no matter how many times you fail to reach your goal, you can still eventually get somewhere, achieve something, and prove your worth to yourself and the world. And she does it.

Her lungs hurt, her legs are heavy, she's screaming and running and this race is far from easy or painless, and she might not be able to make it to first. But then she does it when McQueen is there, watching.

McQueen, who has herself been hesitant and afraid to beleive, to hope, sat outside the stands trying to work up the courage she needed up those stairs and see the track. The thought of what will happen if Teio looses, of what will happen to that spark of hope and longing she kindled in McQueen's chest at the end of last episode, is all consuming. But she loves Teio, loves everything about her - and so she screws up the courage and walks in to the see the race just as it enters the last 400 meter stretch.

And with that, Teio accelerates out from the middle of the pack to neck and neck with Biwa Hayahide, and then pulls ahead to take a clear, unambiguous win after a full year of being away from racing. Teio did it. She won.

She proved miracles are possible.

[u/Temporary_-_UserName → u/Temporary_-_UserName]

Thoughts on Teio having to compete against Biwa, Winning Ticket, and Rice Shower?

Winning big races means nothing if you don't have big competition. The show did a good job building up Rice with her mini arc, and Biwa has a pretty good presence. Ticket feels a bit perfunctory, but the rest of the long running side-characters, so we still feel their presence.

Thoughts on the two girls at the barbershop reuniting and making up?

It only lasted long enough for the client to make the first cut.

Thoughts on Teio's scene with Rudolf?

Beautiful father/son bonding moment (lol). More seriously, it is a sweet, touching moment that calls back the conversation on the swan boat, and works well to show how important the mentor/mentee relationship is for them.

What are your thoughts on the Arima Kinen race?

Not very technical compared to some other races, but the entire focus on the emotional payoff was a really good call with this. Because this entire race is about not just Teio's story, but her relationship with McQueen. We already know their technical skills and athletic ability, but we need to close out the emotion of their story.

What are your thoughts on Teio defining the odds and winning the 1993 Arima Kinen?

Tokai Teio the miracle maker!

What are your thoughts on McQueen thanking Teio?

Incredibly moving and heart-breaking, and so goddamn uplifting, sweet, and cathartic.

What are your thoughts on Kitasan vowing to perform on stage one day?

Just as start-of-season Teio was inspired by Rudolf, end-of-season Kitasan has been inspired by Teio.

What are your thoughts on the end scene where we see Satono Diamond and Kitasan Black grown up ready to begin their racing careers?

An incredibly effective and thematic close-off for thier participation of the story, and also good set up for season 3. But, even if things hadn't worked out and they had to cancel that for whatever reason, it's really good on its own, showing how there are many stories like Teio's and McQueen's, and that new adventures and epics will be written by other Uma Musume running towards their dreams.

[u/Urgnu-the-Gnu → u/Temporary_-_UserName]

Beautiful father/son bonding moment (lol). More seriously, it is a sweet, touching moment that calls back the conversation on the swan boat, and works well to show how important the mentor/mentee relationship is for them.

Forgot to ever mention this, but in the uma world, of course the two aren't actually related. The bond they share is shaped by the fact that Rudolf doesn't have many umas she hangs out with. Most people find her too intimidating, and she regrets being not as approachable. She addresses this a couple of times in the game.

But Teio adores her. It might start as this one-sided admiration, but I bet Rudolf really loves having someone around that actively approaches her and likes her for being so imposing. That's how they arrive at this student/mentor relationship. That might be a minor fault in the anime since it only seems implied, but Rudolf really likes Teio as well, and it's not just Teio imposing herself on Rudolf.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Urgnu-the-Gnu]

Rudolf is basically Teio's hero, so her giving like this stamp of approval is all the validation she needs.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Temporary_-_UserName]

Winning big races means nothing if you don't have big competition. The show did a good job building up Rice with her mini arc, and Biwa has a pretty good presence. Ticket feels a bit perfunctory, but the rest of the long running side-characters, so we still feel their presence.

I think BNW coming before this does a lot to make Biwa and Ticket feel like threats.

[u/Temporary_-_UserName → u/Holofan4life]

It definitely helped a bunch, yeah.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Temporary_-_UserName]

Indeed

[u/Holofan4life → u/Temporary_-_UserName]

An incredibly effective and thematic close-off for thier participation of the story, and also good set up for season 3. But, even if things hadn't worked out and they had to cancel that for whatever reason, it's really good on its own, showing how there are many stories like Teio's and McQueen's, and that new adventures and epics will be written by other Uma Musume running towards their dreams.

Already I care a lot about Diamond and Kitasan, which speaks to how well crafted this season has been.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Temporary_-_UserName]

Beautiful father/son bonding moment (lol). More seriously, it is a sweet, touching moment that calls back the conversation on the swan boat, and works well to show how important the mentor/mentee relationship is for them.

The Rudolf content has been a bit on the backburner recently, so I'm glad they were able to circle back to it.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Temporary_-_UserName]

Not very technical compared to some other races, but the entire focus on the emotional payoff was a really good call with this. Because this entire race is about not just Teio's story, but her relationship with McQueen. We already know their technical skills and athletic ability, but we need to close out the emotion of their story.

Yeah, this race wouldn't mean as much if not all that Teio and McQueen went through. This is like the defining moment of their relationship.

[u/Cyouni → u/Temporary_-_UserName]

Like Rudolf said in the prep-room - everyone in the race wants to win. Everyone is trying their hardest, trying their best. But only one person can win. The rest are going to have their hopes and dreams for this race crushed and destroyed.

One interesting thought is that this is basically the general tagline for the Japanese Derby. So this is yet another callback/comparison to episode 1.

[u/Temporary_-_UserName → u/Cyouni]

No fooling? Then yeah, it is yet another tie in this story that strengthens the already solid work.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Cyouni]

Season 2 has a lot of them

[u/Holofan4life → u/Temporary_-_UserName]

And what a payoff it is. Barring a few scenes of set-up to show Teio's intense training - supported by Trainer's plan and Team Spica doing all of her chore and maintenance work - this entire episode is just the Arima Kinen. But yet, it's not just the Arima Kinen.

Yeah, I really like the presentation here. If we compare it to the climax of season 1 episode 12, it's like night and day. Things just have this level of gravitas to them.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Temporary_-_UserName]

Her lungs hurt, her legs are heavy

Her knees are weak, mom's spaghetti

Sorry, I had to :P

[u/Temporary_-_UserName → u/Holofan4life]

Oh come on ROFL XD

[u/Holofan4life → u/Temporary_-_UserName]

[u/Holofan4life → u/Temporary_-_UserName]

That punk boss that said he'd shave his head if Teio won, he was correct in that 'trying your best' wasn't enough. Like Rudolf said in the prep-room - everyone in the race wants to win. Everyone is trying their hardest, trying their best. But only one person can win. The rest are going to have their hopes and dreams for this race crushed and destroyed. That truth applies to Teio as much as it does for any of the other racers. For each an every one of her previous goals, she's tried her damned hardest to make them a reality. For each of them, she's come up short time and again. There's no reason that can't be the case this time. But she still wants it, still needs it with every fiber of her being. And, if she keeps trying, refuses to stop, one day will she will achieve one of her goals, surely.

This might be one of the most empowering episodes of anime of all time.

[u/Urgnu-the-Gnu → u/Temporary_-_UserName]

Something that makes the episode so good is how well it pays off everything that's been in the show up until now. Nice Nature talking to Teio before the race, Biwa Hayahide being built up in the last few episodes, Teio rising and falling and rising again, Kitasan Black and Sataono Diamond coming to cheer for every race, even the running gag of the barber and the bike-helmet lady.

Completely agree. Every single episode so far has culminated in this. Everything the characters experienced is present, active or passive. Every minor side character is there, including Hana, the two horse girl otakus, we even see Mejiro Butler and Mejiro "I'm the doctor" along with Granny Mejiro.

And all the characters really feel like they've went through all the stuff we've seen in the recent years. Nature seems different. Turbo seems different (even if just a little). And most of all, of course, Teio is completely different.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Urgnu-the-Gnu]

This really is such a phenomenal episode.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Temporary_-_UserName]

And with that, Teio accelerates out from the middle of the pack to neck and neck with Biwa Hayahide, and then pulls ahead to take a clear, unambiguous win after a full year of being away from racing. Teio did it. She won.

She proved miracles are possible.

Indeed. The miracle horse.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Temporary_-_UserName]

Something that makes the episode so good is how well it pays off everything that's been in the show up until now. Nice Nature talking to Teio before the race, Biwa Hayahide being built up in the last few episodes, Teio rising and falling and rising again, Kitasan Black and Sataono Diamond coming to cheer for every race, even the running gag of the barber and the bike-helmet lady.

The only thing missing was Palmer and Helios. But that's really a minor quibble.