Liberty Island Becomes Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown Champion

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Liberty Island has joined the pantheon of Japanese filly greats.

The Duramente-sired 3-year-old completed her quest to win the Japanese fillies' Triple Crown on Sunday, October 15 with a one-length triumph over Masked Diva in the 28th Shuka Sho at Kyoto Racecourse. 

Jockey Yuga Kawada earned his second Japan Racing Association Grade 1 win in as many races this month. On October 1, Kawada piloted Mama Cocha to victory in the 57th Sprinters Stakes.

Before Liberty Island completed the 2,000-meter Shuka Sho in 2 minutes, 1.1 seconds, six other horses were crowned fillies' Triple Crown champions: Mejiro Ramonu (1986), Still in Love (2003), Apapane (2010), Gentildonna (2012), Almond Eye (2018) and Daring Tact (2020).

On May 21, Liberty Island won the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks), the second leg of the fillies' Triple Crown, by more than six lengths at Tokyo Racecourse.

Liberty Island posted a come-from-behind triumph in the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas), the opening race of the Triple Crown, on April 9 at Hanshin Racecourse.

Kawada guided Liberty Island to victory in all three Triple Crown races. And in all six of Liberty Island's career starts, Kawada has handled the reins. She has five wins to date, including in four consecutive G1 races. The lone exception: a runner-up finish in the G3 Artemis Stakes in October 2022.

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Author: Ed Odeven

Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and Twitter ＠ed_odeven.