Japan's Victoire Pisa wins Dubai World Cup

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - Japan's Victoire Pisa has won the $10 million World Cup by a half length, capturing the world's richest horse race in a lift to the disaster-ravaged country.

Three Japanese horses were entered in Saturday's race, and the March 11 earthquake and tsunami clearly were on the minds of the owners and trainers. Many wore polo shirts with the word “Hope” on the sleeve and the date of the double-disaster on the back.

Transcend was the lesser-known of the trio. It stormed out of the gate and led much of the way, with Irish Derby winner Cape Blanco and long-shot Monterosso coming on. As the horses headed down the stretch, Victoire Pisa broke from pack to beat Transcend. Monterosso was third.