Jockey Kazushi Kimura collected his 1,000th career win with a virtual gate-to-wire score aboard Tee N Off in Saturday’s fifth race at Los Alamitos.
A native of Hokkaido, Japan and a three-time champion jockey in Canada before shifting to Southern California last year, Kimura, who turned 26 Sept. 6, began the day two shy of the milestone, but earned victory No. 999 a race earlier with favored first time starter Bust Out.
A three-year-old Stay Thirsty gelding owned by MM Wilkes Racing, John Mihalijevich and breeder Terry Lovingier and trained by Steve Knapp, Tee N Off won by 2½ lengths as the 5-2 second choice in the field of $12,500 maidens bred or sired in California.
“Every year I have a different type of goal and, of course, I’m always trying to become leading jockey at any meet and I realized this year I had the potential to reach 1,000 wins,’’ said Kimura. “I just stayed focus and kept doing my job and we made it today.
“My main goal is try to become the best jockey in the world. If somebody asks who the best jockey in the world I want everybody to say ‘Kazushi Kimura.’ That’s my main goal.’’
Kimura could soon be earning a second consecutive riding title at Los Alamitos.
After topping the Los Angeles County Fair season with 10 victories in his first experience in Orange County, Kimura holds a 6-5 advantage over closest pursuers Kyle Frey and Edgar Payeras heading into closing day of the September meet. He and Frey are named on seven mounts Sunday, one more than Payeras.
‘KK’ won his first race in North American in 2018 on June 9, guiding Tornado Cat to a win at Woodbine. He cut a swath through the jockey standings at Woodbine before he headed to the U.S.
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