You've been there. Your Super Creek is cruising. She's got the blue skills, she’s got the "A" in distance, and the stamina bar looks beefy. Then, the final corner hits at the Tenno Sho Spring, and she just... sinks. It’s frustrating. You’re left staring at the screen wondering how a girl with 1,000 Stamina just got dusted by a gold-skill-propping Rice Shower. The truth is that long race Uma Musume builds are the hardest thing to get right in the game because the math behind them is surprisingly punishing.
Long distance isn't just "medium distance but more." It's a completely different engine.
In Uma Musume: Pretty Derby, any race over 2,500 meters is classified as "Long." We’re talking about the Arima Kinen, the Kikuka-sho, and the absolute stamina-killer, the Tenno Sho (Spring) at 3,200 meters. If you aren't prepping for these specifically, you're basically just throwing gacha points at a wall.
The Stamina Threshold Trap
Most players think hitting a certain stat number is a "pass/fail" for the race. It’s not. Long races introduce a mechanic where your speed is throttled if your stamina is projected to run out before the finish line. This is the "spurt" calculation. If your Uma Musume realizes she can't make it to the end at full tilt, she simply won't start her final spurt when she’s supposed to.
Basically? You lose before the final straight even begins.
For a 3,000m+ race, you aren't just looking for 1,000 Stamina. You're looking for roughly 1,100 to 1,200 plus at least two "Gold" recovery skills like Arc Maestro or Cool-headed. And honestly, even that might not be enough if the "Guts" (根性) stat is sitting down at 400. Guts acts as a modifier for how efficiently you use stamina during the final stretch. If your Guts is low, your stamina drains faster when you're fighting for position. It’s a vicious cycle.
Why Some Girls Just Rule the 3,200m
Not all long-distance runners are created equal. You’ve probably noticed certain names dominate the meta for the Libra Cup or any long-distance Champions Meeting.
Mejiro McQueen is the classic choice. Her unique skill, Noble Scorn, triggers during the final corner if she's in the lead, which is huge for "Runner" (逃げ) or "Leader" (先行) types. But the real queen of the long haul is often Super Creek. Her "Pure Heart" (Maestro) is arguably the best recovery unique in the game because it triggers so reliably.
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Then there's Gold Ship.
God, Gold Ship.
She’s a "Chaser" (追込), which means she spends the first 2,000 meters just chilling at the back. This preserves a massive amount of stamina. Because she isn't fighting for a lane or dealing with the "kakari" (over-excitement) state as often as front-runners, she can dump all that energy into a 600-meter nuclear blast at the end. If you’re struggling with long races, stop trying to force a Leader build and just embrace the Ship.
The Hidden Impact of Track Conditions
People ignore the track. Don't do that.
A "Heavy" (重) or "Bad" (不良) track increases stamina consumption significantly. If you’re building for a specific event and the weather report says rain, you need to over-cap your stamina by at least 10%.
- Standard Track: 1,000 Stamina + 1 Gold Heal = Safe-ish.
- Heavy Track: 1,100 Stamina + 2 Gold Heals = Actually Safe.
Support Cards: The Non-Negotiables
If you don't have SSR Super Creek (the power of Maestro), you're playing on hard mode. It’s the single most important card for long race Uma Musume builds. Why? Because Arc Maestro doesn't have a strict activation condition—it just triggers on a corner. Since long races have four to six corners, it is guaranteed to fire.
Beyond Creek, look at SSR Rice Shower (Power version). She gives Cool-headed, another top-tier recovery skill. If you're running a Chaser like Gold Ship, SSR Narita Taishin is a must for Adonis's Eye.
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Don't ignore the SR cards either. Manhattan Cafe (SR Stamina) is a budget king. She offers "Long Distance" specific passives that can help bridge the gap if you haven't whaled for the top-tier SSRs.
The Guts Meta: A Necessary Evil?
There was a time when everyone ignored Guts. "It’s a dead stat," they said.
They were wrong.
In the current version of the game, especially for long distances, Guts provides a "Last Spurt" speed bonus. If two girls have the same Speed and Stamina, the one with 800 Guts will blow the one with 400 Guts out of the water every single time. You don't need to max it out, but aiming for 600-700 is the sweet spot for high-level competitive play.
It makes the training balance a nightmare. You're trying to juggle Speed, Stamina, Power, and Guts. Something usually gives. Most top trainers sacrifice a bit of Power, relying on the "Long Distance" distance aptitude (S-rank) to provide the necessary acceleration boost instead of raw stats.
Strategy: The "Inner versus Outer" Debate
Positioning is everything. In a 3,200m race, the distance saved by hugging the inner rail is massive. This is why "Lane Magic" skills or anything that helps with positioning (like Position Zero) are secret MVPs. If your Uma Musume gets pushed to the outside of the pack during three different corners, she is effectively running an extra 50-100 meters.
That’s 100 meters of stamina you didn't account for.
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This is why "Betweener" (差し) types often struggle in long races despite having great skill sets. They get boxed in, forced wide, and waste energy. Chasers have it easier because they can clear the pack, and Runners have it easiest because they own the rail from the start.
Practical Steps for Your Next Build
Stop aiming for "all-rounders." A long-distance winner needs to be a specialist.
First, check your inheritance. You want at least 12 to 18 stars of Stamina or Guts from your parents. Don't waste inheritance slots on Speed; you can hit the Speed cap easily with two good Speed support cards and the aura of the training camp.
Second, prioritize the "S" rank in Distance. You get this by having Long Distance inheritance factors. An "S" in Distance increases your speed modifier during the race, which is actually more effective than having an extra 50 points in your Speed stat. It’s the "hidden" way to win.
Third, look at your skills. One gold recovery skill is mandatory. Two is a safety net. Three is usually overkill and wastes points that could go toward speed sub-skills. Arc Maestro and Direct Entry are the gold standards.
Finally, watch the replays. Don't just skip them. Look at where your girl loses her steam. If she's slowing down before the final corner, you need more Stamina. If she’s sprinting but everyone is passing her, you need more Guts or Power.
Go back to the training center. Focus on the 3,200m Tenno Sho Spring as your benchmark. If you can clear that consistently in URA or Grand Live with a comfortable lead, you’ve built a long-distance monster.
- Target 1,100 Stamina and 600 Guts as your floor.
- Secure Arc Maestro via Super Creek or inheritance.
- Force a "Long Distance S" rank through focused inheritance.
- Minimize "Power" training in favor of Speed/Stamina stacks to maximize efficiency.