Crown Pride Apprehended After Unseating Rider

It was an eventful morning for Crown Pride  and exercise rider Masa Matsuda April 22 at Churchill Downs.

 WATCH: Matsuda Describes Crown Pride Gate Schooling Incident

Japan's Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) contender dropped Matsuda and took a left turn out of the starting gate while schooling there just after 8 a.m. ET.

Matsuda said he and Crown Pride both escaped the incident unscathed, especially thanks to the efforts of outrider Lee Lockwood, who caught Crown Pride in swift order and returned him to the gate to resume his lessons. Matsuda said the sound of the starting gate bell that rings before the doors open startled the colt, who is used to the Japanese starting gates that do not utilize a bell.

"In Japan, you just open the gate and we can go, but in America, first bell, then open," Matsuda said. "So the horse was very (surprised)… I fell off of (the horse) but I just checked the ground of Churchill Downs."

Teruya Yoshida's Crown Pride broke from the gate without incident on his second try, with outrider Greg Blasi keeping him company for a few strides.

"Second time, I just (lengthened) the irons and sat (deeper) in the saddle," Matsuda said. "Then I went the straight way, which was easier."

Winner of the UAE Derby Sponsored by Mubadala (G2) at Meydan last out, the Koichi Shintani-trained Crown Pride will revisit the starting gate for further lessons leading up to the May 7 classic.