This year's 3-year-old classics brought yet another surprise as fourth-pick Smile Tomorrow staged an upset, besting the Oaks full-gate by a length and half. Capping the upset was 12th-pick Chapel Concert, 3/4 of a length ahead of the heavily betted Yu Carat. Race favorite Shinin' Ruby failed to spark finishing in fifth place.
After allowing her to bide her time three from the rear of the field of 18 fillies, Yutaka Yoshida brought the White Muzzle-sired Smile Tomorrow round the final bend on the rail, looked for an opening and, finding one, brought the filly four wide and to the front with 175 meters to go.
"My main concern was getting her calmed down," said Yoshida of Smile Tomorrow, who was highly agitated in the preliminaries and in the gate. Yoshida was successful, and, at the final turn, said, "I had a lot of horse under me."