Race favorite Gran Alegria successfully defended her Mile Championship title to become the first back-to-back winner since Daiwa Major (2006-07) and sixth overall.

Tenth pick Akai Ito marked an upset victory in this year’s Queen Elizabeth II Cup to score her first graded title and became the first Kizuna filly or colt to capture a JRA-G1 title.

It was a long time coming, but after 25 years, Japan has not only landed its first win in the Breeders’ Cup gala, it’s landed two.