Early the next morning, the dirt track at the American Tracen Academy still held a hint of damp, morning vitality.
After a full day of thorough adaptation, Myriad Dreams had become completely familiar with the characteristics of the dirt beneath her feet.
The texture was far more granular and responsive than the tracks in Japan.
"How are you feeling, Myriad?" Aio Kiryuin asked, holding her training schedule board as she watched Myriad Dreams perform her warm-up stretches.
"No problems at all, Trainer!" Myriad Dreams rotated her ankles, her eyes bright and focused.
"I feel like I understand how to exert force much better than yesterday."
"Very good."
Kiryuin nodded. "Then, let's start with a 1000-meter warm-up gallop to find your rhythm. You don't need to go all out, but follow the optimal line we planned yesterday strictly."
"Understood!"
Myriad Dreams took a deep breath and stepped onto the track.
At Kiryuin's command, she launched instantly, starting with maximum efficiency!
Unlike the cautious probing of her arrival yesterday, today she seemed to merge as one with the dirt track.
Every stride was powerful and efficient. Soil flew beneath her hooves, but it couldn't hinder her fluid rhythm in the slightest.
Her body leaned forward slightly, perfectly following the route calculated by the system in her mind, conserving the most stamina while allowing for maximum speed.
Cornering, accelerating, maintaining speed...
Her figure traced a beautiful arc in the morning sun, her speed increasing until she kicked up a whistling wind.
Aio Kiryuin kept her eyes fixed on the stopwatch in her hand.
A flash of surprise crossed her gaze, which quickly turned into satisfaction.
As Myriad Dreams crossed the finish line like a blue whirlwind, Kiryuin pressed the stop button.
"Exactly 56 seconds."
Kiryuin reported the number, her tone carrying a rare note of admiration.
"Incredible, Myriad. To run this time on dirt after only one day of adaptation... Looking at this form, you should have no major issues regarding track suitability for the upcoming races."
Myriad Dreams slowed down gradually, adjusting her breathing. She broke into a brilliant smile upon hearing the result.
Being able to exchange training results so easily and pleasantly with her trainer gave her immense confidence for the challenges ahead.
However, the relaxed atmosphere on their side was not shared elsewhere.
On another track not far away, Silver Charm was wiping off sweat with a towel after finishing a set of interval runs.
Her trainer, Bob Baffert, was not focusing entirely on his own student.
Holding a pair of high-powered binoculars, he watched Myriad Dreams, who had just finished her timed run, with sharp eyes, his face written with undisguised shock.
He lowered the binoculars and turned to Silver Charm beside him, his voice low and serious.
"Silver Charm," he said, his gaze lingering on the distant blue figure. "Looks like your competition has arrived."
Silver Charm followed his gaze and saw Myriad Dreams talking to her trainer with a confident smile.
Her silver eyes, as charming as her name, narrowed slightly.
She said nothing, offering only a soft "Hmph," but her fingers tightened perceptibly around her towel.
In the air, the previously isolated training atmospheres began to quietly permeate with the scent of invisible gunpowder.