Top favorite T. M. Ocean surged into the lead at the top of the final straight Sunday and then held off the challengers to win the sixth running of the Shukasho, the third leg of the triple crown series for 3-year-old fillies.
T.M. Ocean, winner of the Okasho in April, completed the 2,000-meter test on turf at Kyoto Racecourse in 1 minute, 58.5 seconds with jockey Masaru Honda astride to claim the 89 million yen winner's purse.
It was T.M. Ocean's third Grade One victory and second win in the triple crown races after the Okasho. She finished third in the second leg, the Oaks, in May.
Rosebud, runnerup in the Oaks, made a late move on the inside but could not catch the leader, finishing second, three-quarters of a length behind. Oaks winner Lady Pastel finished third.