The third attempt at Japan’s top dirt race worked for Hokko Tarumae. After finishing second in the Japan Cup Dirt in 2012 and 2013, Hokko Tarumae won the renamed $1,665,172 Champions Cup on dirt at Chukyo Racecourse in Nagoya on Sunday. Imperative, the winner of the $1.5 million Charles Town Classic in West Virginia in April, had a troubled trip and finished 15th in the field of 16. Trained at Santa Anita by George Papaprodromou, Imperative was checked in traffic on the first turn and was not a factor through the final quarter-mile. Kent Desormeaux was aboard Imperative for his first start since a ninth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 1. Papaprodromou told Japan publicity officials that Imperative’s troubled trip left the 4-year-old discouraged. “He had to be checked,” Papaprodromou said. “He doesn’t like that when you do that to him.” Hokko Tarumae (9-2) won the Champions Cup by a half-length over 19-1 Namura Victor. Roman Legend, a 6-1 shot, finished 1 1/4 lengths behind Hokko Tarumae in the race over about 1 1/8 miles. Copano Rickey, the 2-1 favorite, finished 12th after a poor start. Hokko Tarumae, a 5-year-old horse by King Kamehameha, races for Michiaki Yabe and trainer Katsuichi Nishiura. A winner of 13 of 27 starts, Hokko Tarumae was ridden by Hideaki Miyuki, his regular rider. Earlier this year, Hokko Tarumae finished last of 16th in the $10 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates, but emerged from the race with colitis, and later a muscle strain, that kept him out of action until last month. Nishiura said after Sunday’s race that a return trip to Dubai in March is a possibility.