Bellagio Opera stalked frontrunner Stunning Rose in the Osaka Hai while turning the last two corners. He passed the leader before the 200-meter pole.
Quick out of the gate from the widest stall to begin the Champions Cup, Lemon Pop, guided by Ryusei Sakai, accelerated strongly to assume command.
Ushba Tesoro became the first Japanese thoroughbred to win the prestigious international race since Sunday Silence descendant Victoire Pisa in 2011.
