To begin with I've always liked horses, lol. I might've grown up reading Warrior Cats but I've always liked horses just as animals, as indicated by my past interest in MLP as a franchise, but I never got into horseracing until I got into Umamusume

With Umamusume my first introduction to it was Road to the Top which I sometimes think is even better than the movie it preceded (Beginning of a New Era) at least in terms of directing quality and narrative cohesion...? But what really captured me about the franchise was its approach to dramatizing historical events and I really love learning about the real horses and their histories ...theres just sooo much drama in there and I think this is something I'm seeing in The Royal Family j-drama too, but the way racehorses are all representative of the hopes and dreams of their trainer, their jockey, their owner, all the people who cared for them, and the horses in their pedigree... I guess I just really loved the authenticity and wholesomeness of Umamusume and I actually think the "idol" aspect works extremely well in the context of its world, esp.since I came to it after falling out of love with Enstars.

Oh my goodness why did I not see this sooner. I'm 24 days late. Hello anon. This is actually a really good question and a good time for me to mention that Puyo Puyo did have a collaboration with the Japanese Racing Assocation called umapuyo and you have really good combinations like Raffina with Tokai Teio and Schezo with Meijiro Mcqueen

But my personal opinion for fave umas of my fave puyos
- Amitie: Buena Vista for sure. Like 100%. The vibes are perfect and Vista even has the childhood friend thing going for her in her career which Amitie lowkey feels like even if she and Sig aren't childhood friends
- Raffina: Kawakami Princess or Gentildonna or King Halo. I think Gentil would be her top fav
- Sig: Seiun Sky or Neo Universe. Seiun is the most Sig-core umamusume
- Klug: lowkey hard to place but I can see Tanino Gimlet, Agnes Tachyon, or Chrono Genesis
- Strange Klug: Still in Love, Red Desire, or Tanino Gimlet (and if she realized Klug had the same faves as her she'd be pissed off)
- Marle: Hishi Miracle
- Squares: Air Shakur...not sure why this is like a vibe thing. I also think he'd like KS Miracle.