TAKARAZUKA, Hyogo Pref. -- Still in Love braved a blistering pace in the Okasho on Sunday at Hanshin, and succeeded in putting sufficient distance between herself and slow-breaking race favorite Admire Groove to claim the first jewel in the fillies' triple crown series.

She landed the victory in a race record 1:33.9 over 1,600 meters of turf 1 1/2 lengths ahead of longshot She is Tosho, followed by Admire Groove in third by a half-length.

The Japanese equivalent of the 1,000 Guineas got off to a unanimous groan from the crowd of over 60,000 fans as the unbeaten Admire Groove, after balking at the loading, lost a good 2 lengths in a slow break.