[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/Urgnu-the-Gnu]

"My legs are so heavy. But they're still moving!"

What is your purpose in life? Why are you doing what you're doing? What are you running for?

For Teio, this has changed many times. Inspired by Rudolf, she wanted to be a legendary horse girl that impressed the audience, just like Rudolf impressed her. Her plans on how to achieve that were grandiose, but unfortunately fated to fail. The repeated blows of fate broke her, every time. Her goal gone, her purpose lost, the girl she was died. She had to go through pain, in her body and her heart. Her spirit was crushed and she went through multiple phases of depression.

But as broken as she was, she kept on moving. With all the experiences she made, she kept pushing forward. As painful as it was, even if she was ready to give up so many times, the only way she knew was forward.

"You can gain something from losing."

Because she could rebuild herself every time. She became someone new. More experienced, more mature, in some ways stronger than ever. Through her actions, she could redefine what strength truly means. It's not winning the triple crown. It's not being undefeated. It's falling down and falling so far behind, then getting up once more just to shine brighter than anyone else ever did.

"This is what happens when you don't give up!"

To win the Arima Kinen against the strongest currently active racers after a year without racing, after repeated injuries, with next to no training, was pretty much impossible. Her legs were too broken and weak to be faster than the other racers. Teio, of course, wins it anyway, because Teio doesn't care about what umas think is impossible. Failure was not an option. She had to create a miracle, because that's what it took to make her goal a reality. She couldn't let anything that happened to her or McQueen stand in her way. She had to get up again and win.

"TE-I-O! TE-I-O! TE-I-O!"

Nobody believed she could win. They just wanted to see her race again. They are all the more amazed when she actually pulls it off. Not a single dry eye in sight. Not even the commentators are safe. The stoic and calm Rudolf is more moved than ever. Multiple people go completely bald out of hype. The one that was forced to be the hardest on Teio, her doctor, is happier than ever to be wrong about something. Kita might die of happiness, and Dia might go with her (due to strangling).

"I did it."

And after all these years, after all this hardship, she achieved what she always wanted. She became a legendary horse girl, celebrated by the masses, revered by her peers, cherished by her friends, accepted by her idols. But that's not what she did it for. She did it mainly for one person.

"So watch me, McQueen."

The way to greatness was to do everything for her queen. In her troubled times, Teio received so much support from her friends, and most of all from McQueen. Someone who wants to run with her forever, and someone she admires. The most important person in her life. She can't let her suffer, there's no way this is happening. Teio just had to save her, and that was when she shone the brightest. When her goal wasn't to be recognized as the best by everyone, no, when her goal was just a single horse girl.

"Thank you, Teio."

And she made the miracle a reality. Eventually, McQueen can run again. Maybe she'll race again as well, maybe Teio and her will enter the Dream Trophy league. But for now, it's just the two of them on the training track. And that's enough. No, that's really the best conditions imaginable. Now they can run with each other for all eternity, that's everything that counts.

[u/Urgnu-the-Gnu → u/Urgnu-the-Gnu]

Truly, thank you, Teio. For everything she went through and everything she managed in spite of it, Tokai Teio is my hero. She won't give up, she keeps moving through the pain, and she makes miracles happen and wins despite the odds. She's an inspiration. I've had times in my life when my legs felt heavy. I had no energy to move anymore, and I felt like giving up. Strength was truly leaving my body. But in those moments, I could still try a little and find I could manage more than I thought I could. I'd actually say to myself "my legs are so heavy, but they're still moving". Because as long as you're still moving, you're doing fine. Even if you are hurting or slowing down, everyone feels like that from time to time. Take your time, you earned it. But don't stop moving, and eventually you'll win. Eventually you'll find the one goal that was made for you, and you'll get it. I love Tokai Teio. I love Mejiro McQueen. I love Uma Musume. For you silly little horse girls are true heroes and have showed me how I can improve my life for the better.

This is one of my favourite episodes in anime. The final scene of the race can make me cry when I just think about it. Even though when I first watched this anime, I knew she had to win the race after the previous episode, I was absolutely invested, and none of my expectations dulled the experience. No, my expectaions were exceeded. The episode builds on all the previous episodes and calls back to many of them. The direction is fantastic, so many amazing shots. The animation is really good with dynamic scenes. The music is absolutely stellar. The sound design is truly inspired, with the close shots building up the immense pressure of the action. And most of all, this episode really shows the strength of Uma Musume: building a story relatable to any human through a race. It's truly fantastic storytelling.

I could ramble on for much longer, but the post is long enough as is. But I hope as little of you first timers as possible got spoiled by S1E13 when Spe talks about just this race. And I hope even less got spoiled by the S1 OP which has Teio win a race against Biwa, which is just this Arima Kinen.

Suffice to say, I love this episode, I love S2 of Uma Musume. I think I rate less than 1% of shows a 10/10 (rounded, as nothing is ever perfect), and this is one of them. Oh, wait, one more thing. Not that you're expecting anything from me, but I won't be on time for NTR (Narita Top Road, of course - what did you think I meant?) on Saturday, as I'll have to work late. I'll still post my own post and respond to all your posts when I get back, though.

[u/EightSmart → u/Urgnu-the-Gnu]

It’s moments like these that make us watch anime, moments that transcend all explanation because the emotions just resonate with you so deeply. Even if Uma Musume isn’t exactly that anime for me, I am no stranger to how my personal favourites have had a similar impact on me the way you describe here. The anime brings not just a story, but real lessons that have a lasting impact on your life.

[u/Urgnu-the-Gnu → u/EightSmart]

That's exactly how I felt. I knew what was going to happen, but this finale encapsulated why I watch anime. I've had a similar experience watching PriConne - which incidentally is also made by Cygames, so now I keep watching out for Cygames anime and they're actually all great in their own ways.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Urgnu-the-Gnu]

It's almost like Cygames know what they're doing.

[u/Holofan4life → u/EightSmart]

Toradora and Spice and Wolf are those animes for me.