If you’ve spent any time in the Uma Musume: Pretty Derby community, you’ve heard the name. Kitasan Black. Or just "Kita-chan" if you’re feeling friendly. She isn’t just another horse girl with a flashy design and a penchant for festival chants. She’s a literal cornerstone of the game’s history and a character that redefined how people approach training altogether.
Honestly, it’s rare for a single character to carry this much weight for years. But Kitasan does. From her debut as a support card that broke the internet to her starring role in Season 3 of the anime, she’s basically the face of the "power creep" conversation—even if she’s since been joined by other heavy hitters.
Who is Kitasan Black anyway?
In the world of Uma Musume, Kitasan Black is defined by her "Wasshoi!" energy. She’s bright. She’s loud. She loves a good festival more than almost anything. Her design is a direct nod to her real-life owner, the legendary enka singer Saburo Kitajima. That’s why she’s got that traditional Japanese flair, with the red rope ties and the yukata-inspired racing outfit.
She’s the kind of person who can’t walk past someone in trouble. If you’re sad, she’s there. If you’re tired, she’s shouting encouragement. It’s a bit much sometimes, but you can’t hate it.
Her backstory in the anime is actually pretty grounding. She grows up idolizing Tokai Teio, which creates this interesting dynamic. Teio is the "prodigy" who struggled with injuries, while Kitasan represents the "stayer"—the powerhouse who just won't quit. In Season 3, we really see her grapple with what it means to be a "hero" to others, just like Teio was to her. It’s surprisingly emotional for a show about horse girls.
The card that changed everything
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the [Fire at My Heels] Kitasan Black SSR.
When this card first dropped, the meta didn’t just shift; it shattered. Before Kitasan, speed training was a bit of a gamble. You hoped for good rolls. You hoped for rainbows. Then Kitasan arrived with her 100 Specialty Priority (at max limit break).
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What does that mean in plain English? It means she shows up in the Speed training slot. A lot.
She basically made it possible to hit the Speed cap (which was 1200 back in the day) with minimal effort. But it wasn't just the stats. Her events are actually good. She has three separate "Mood Up" events. If you’ve ever had a training run ruined because your Uma got depressed and refused to work out, you know how life-saving those events are.
Is she still the "Best" in 2026?
Things have changed. We’ve seen New Year’s versions, and we’ve seen cards like Jungle Pocket or the newer Maruzensky cards give her a run for her money.
But here’s the thing: Kitasan is still the benchmark. If a new Speed card comes out, the first question everyone asks is, "Is it better than Kitasan?" Usually, the answer is "maybe in specific scenarios," but Kitasan remains the most versatile. She fits in almost any deck, for any distance, for any strategy.
If you're F2P (free-to-play), a Max Limit Break (MLB) Kitasan is still the smartest investment you can make. Even at 3 LB (Limit Break), she’s better than 90% of the other SSRs in the game.
Real-Life Legacy: The Stayer Who Wouldn't Quit
You can't really appreciate the Uma version without knowing the real horse. The real Kitasan Black was a monster on the track. We’re talking about a horse that won seven G1 races, matching legends like Symboli Rudolf and Deep Impact.
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He was huge. Like, physically massive for a Thoroughbred.
He weighed around 540kg during his peak. In horse racing, that’s a lot of muscle to move. People originally doubted him because his pedigree wasn't "royal" enough. His sire, Black Tide, was Deep Impact's brother, but he wasn't considered the superstar of the family. Kitasan proved everyone wrong by winning at 3000m (Kikuka Sho) and then dominating the 2400m-3200m range for years.
The most famous part of his career? The retirement. After winning his final race at the Arima Kinen in 2017, his owner, Saburo Kitajima, actually held a concert at the racetrack. He sang "Matsuri" (Festival) to a crowd of thousands who stayed late just to see him. That’s exactly why the character in the game screams "Wasshoi!"
It’s not just a quirk; it’s a tribute to one of the most beloved moments in Japanese sports history.
What Most People Get Wrong About Using Her
A lot of new players pull a single copy of Kitasan and wonder why their stats aren't skyrocketing.
Here’s the cold truth: Kitasan Black is a "whale" card or a "long-term save" card. At 0 LB or 1 LB, she’s... fine. She’s okay. But she doesn't get that insane Specialty Priority until she’s capped out.
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- Don't use her at level 30 and expect miracles.
- Do save your Rainbow Crystals to uncap her.
- Don't assume she’s only for "Runners" (Escape types). While her gold skill, Arc Maestro (wait, no, that’s Creek)—I mean, her gold skill Front-running Pride is great for leads, her raw stat-stick power works for anyone.
If you are training Kitasan Black the character, remember you can’t use her SSR support card. This is the "Kitasan Paradox." You have to rely on other Speed supports like Narita Top Road or the newer Agnes Tachyon cards to fill that gap. It’s a bit of a headache, but her internal growth bonuses usually make up for it.
Mastering the "Wasshoi" Strategy
If you want to actually win with her in PvP (Champions Meeting), you have to lean into her stamina. Because she was a stayer in real life, her character in the game has decent stamina growth.
Don't just stack Speed.
In the current 2026 meta, "Stamina Check" is real. If you’re running a Long distance race (3000m+), even a 1600 Speed Kitasan will collapse in the final stretch if her Stamina is under 1000.
Basically, you’ve got to balance that "Festival" energy with some actual endurance.
- Prioritize the "Groundwork" skill. If you’re running her as a Runner (Lead), this is non-negotiable for the start of the race.
- Look for "Top Runner." It’s the evolved version of her signature skill and it’s what keeps her in first place during the middle leg.
- Watch your Int (Intelligence) stats. High speed is useless if she doesn't trigger her skills. Aim for at least 800-900 Int.
Kitasan Black isn't just a "flavor of the month" character. She’s a legacy. Whether you’re watching her cry in the anime or watching her smash a rainbow training session in the game, she represents the heart of Uma Musume. She’s the underdog who became the king, wrapped in a festival-loving, hyper-energetic package.
If you haven't started saving your carats for her next rerun, you might want to start now. Even years later, the festival is still going strong.
Actionable Next Steps:
Check your current Support Card roster and identify if you have a "Speed Anchor." If you don't have Kitasan at 3 LB or higher, look at your Rainbow Crystals. It is statistically better to use your crystals to finish a Kitasan uncap than to spread them across multiple "decent" SSRs. If you’re playing the character herself, focus on inheriting Stamina stars to offset the lack of her own support card in your deck.