Kazushi Kimura to Ride Mandarin Hero in Kentucky Derby

Canada’s champion jockey KAZUSHI KIMURA will get the opportunity of a lifetime on Saturday, May 6 when he rides MANDARIN HERO (Shanghai Bobby) in the $3 million Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs. Mandarin Hero drew into the field after several horses were scratched from the race on Thursday.

Mandarin Hero, the Japanese colt who had a stellar North American debut with Kimura in the Santa Anita Derby when second by a nose to Practical Move (since scratched from the Derby) was one of three horses to draw into the Derby field on Thursday.

Practical Move was scratched mid-day on Thursday due to a temperature, allowing CYCLONE MISCHIEF (Into Mischief) to draw in.

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LORD MILES was withdrawn later Thursday as trainer Saffie Jospeh, Jr., who had two sudden deaths of his horses in races at Churchill, has been suspended from racing at the track. And the Japanese colt CONTINUAR was scratched later on Thursday by his connections and KING RUSSELL (Creative Cause) drew in.

Skinner was scratched on Friday.

Last year’s Derby winner Rich Strike drew in from the also-eligible list as number 21, post 20.

Kimura, who is from Japan but has been riding at Woodbine since the beginning his career just a few years ago, would be one of a few Woodbine/Canadian-based riders who will get to ride in the most famous race in the world. That list includes SANDY HAWLEY (6 mounts, two thirds), JEFF FELL (4 mounts), CHRIS ROGERS, PATRICK HUSBANDS and LUIS CONTRERAS.

From Churchill Downs regarding Joseph:

“Churchill Downs Incorporated (“CDI”) announced today the indefinite suspension of trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. until further notice. The suspension prohibits Joseph, or any trainer directly or indirectly employed by Joseph, from entering horses in races or applying for stall occupancy at all CDI-owned racetracks.”

The field, as of Friday morning, looked like this (courtesy horse-races.net):

Horse Post/Saddle towel, Trainer, Dosage, Jockey, Odds
1 Hit Show, Brad Cox 2.50 Manny Franco 30-1
2 Verifying, Brad Cox 3.00 Tyler Gaffalione 15-1
3 Two Phil’s, Larry Rivelli 2.64 Jareth Loveberry 12-1
4 Confidence Game, Keith Desormeaux 1.67 James Graham 50-1
5 Tapit Trice, Todd Pletcher 3.92 Luis Saez 5-1
6 Kingsbarns, Todd Pletcher 1.80 Jose Ortiz 12-1
7 Reincarnate, Tim Yakteen 3.00 John Velazquez 50-1
8 Mage, Gustavo Delgado 2.50 Javier Castellano 15-1
9 Skinner, John Shirreffs 2.33 Juan Hernandez 20-1
~~10 Practical Move Tim Yakteen 3.00 Ramon Vazquez scratched~~
11 Disarm, Steve Asmussen 2.43 Joel Rosario 30-1
12 Jace’s Road, Brad Cox 2.33 Florent Geroux 15-1
13 Sun Thunder, Ken McPeek 3.00 Brian Hernandez Jr. 50-1
14 Angel Of Empire, Brad Cox 9.00 Flavien Prat 8-1
15 Forte, Todd Pletcher 3.00 Irad Ortiz Jr. 3-1
16 Raise Cain, Ben Colebrook 1.86 Gerardo Corrales 50-1
17 Derma Sotogake, Hidetaka Otonashi 3.00 Christophe Lemaire 10-1
18 Rocket Can, Bill Mott 4.33 Junior Alvarado 30-1
~~19 Lord Miles Saffie Joseph Jr. 3.44 Paco Lopez scratched~~
~~20 Continuar Yoshito Yahagi 1.15 Ryusei Sakai scratched~~
21 Cyclone Mischief, Dale Romans 3.00 Joel Rosario 30-1
22 Mandarin Hero, Terunobu Fujita 1.40 Kazushi Kimura 20-1
23 King Russell, Ron Moquett 1.93 Rafael Bejarano 50-1