Grab your steed and get ready to ride: the 2nd STAGE of STEEL BALL RUN JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is finally here — and this time, episodes stream weekly on Fridays. But if you’ve fallen behind the pack, here’s a quick catch-up on what happened during the 1st STAGE of this beloved Wild West anime escapade.

This latest part of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is set in a fictionalized version of 1890 America, as competitors from all over the world compete in the Steel Ball Run, a punishing horse race from San Diego to New York with nine STAGEs and a $50 million prize. 

One of the main jockeys competing in this race is a mysterious man with gold teeth named Gyro Zeppeli, who carries a pair of spinning Steel Balls in a hip holster, and uses them against a thief before the race even begins. Watching this showdown is Johnny Joestar, a former jockey prodigy who was paralyzed after getting shot in the back.

When Johnny approaches Gyro and accidentally touches the Steel Balls, his legs briefly regain mobility. Believing these balls are the key to him walking again, Johnny begs Gyro to show him the Steel Balls, but Gyro refuses. Frustrated by this rejection, Johnny signs up for the Steel Ball Run in the hopes of learning the secrets of the balls’ power.

The race begins with its 1st STAGE: a 10-mile circuit to an old church, the winner of which is awarded a one-hour time bonus for the next STAGE and a $10,000 reward. The first major racer eliminated is Urmd Avdul, a rider who tries to steer his massive camel to knock out Gyro — only for Gyro to use his Steel Balls to lead Urmd into a cactus patch. 

Gyro and his steed Valkyrie initially take the lead, but are eventually passed by the heavily favored Diego Brando, commonly known as Dio, the “heir apparent” of British racing. In response, Gyro uses his Steel Balls to amplify his horse’s leg power and destroy a bridge both men attempt to cross, briefly incapacitating Diego and leaving him in the dust. 

Meanwhile, another racer named Pocoloco realizes he’s overslept, and jumps into the race after it’s begun, boosted by knowledge that he’s been blessed with an unusual amount of luck. He quickly catches up with the rest of the competitors by jumping over a cliff, thanks in part to the help of a Native American runner named Sand Man who believes he can outrun horses. Pocoloco follows Gyro and Johnny, who take a shortcut through a forest, allowing the three to gain a massive lead on the field.

The last stretch is between five top racers, all neck and neck: Sand Man, Gyro, Johnny, Diego, and Pocoloco (who surfs on a cow carcass to the finish line). At the last second, Gyro uses his Steel Balls to give Valkyrie an extra speed boost, allowing him to come out on top and win this STAGE of the race.

Gyro is now the apparent frontrunner, but his position is far from set in stone. However, Johnny might be the true victor in that he’s one step closer to learning the secrets of the Steel Balls. “This is the story of how I began to walk,” he says at the end of Episode 1. “Not literally. But in the sense of walking the path to manhood.”

The 1st STAGE of STEEL BALL RUN JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is available to stream now.