Japan: Liberty Island steps up with Hanshin Juvenile Fillies victory

Liberty Island won for the second time in her third start in Sunday’s Grade 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies at Hanshin Racecourse in Japan, a performance that makes her the filly to follow in the spring classics in early 2023.

The win in the $917,280 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies is likely to lead to the 2-year-old filly championship for Liberty Island. The year-end awards are announced in early January.

Ridden by Yuga Kawada, Liberty Island ($5) closed from the middle of a field of 18 2-year-olds to take the lead with a furlong remaining. Sent off favored, Liberty Island won by 2 1/2 lengths over 53-1 Shinryokuka. Doe Eyes (45-1) finished third, beaten 2 3/4 lengths.

Liberty Island won her debut in a race at a mile for first-time starters at Niigata in late July, and was a troubled second by a neck in the Grade 3 Artemis Stakes at a mile on turf at Tokyo on Oct. 29.

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“I am happy that the filly was able to show her performance at its best,” Kawada told Japan Racing Association publicity.

“I just let the filly choose the position within the field that she felt comfortable in and concentrated on maintaining the good flow and rhythm during the trip. She cruised along smoothly and her response when asked was just as I had imagined, so I was quite confident that she would make it to the finish line.

“She has progressed well, including her loss last time out, toward winning this big championship race, and she has given us a promising view on what to expect and aim for in her coming future.”

By Duramente, Liberty Island races for Sunday Racing Co., Ltd., and trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida.

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