Kirstenbosch Gives Kimura First Santa Anita Win

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Kirstenbosch Gives Kimura First Santa Anita Win
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Kirstenbosch edges Ganadora to win the La Canada Stakes at Santa Anita Park

In a star-studded winter Santa Anita Park jockey colony, Kazushi Kimura put the skills that earned him two consecutive Woodbine riding titles on full display when piloting Kirstenbosch  to a narrow victory in the Jan. 15 $200,000 La Canada Stakes (G3).

Winless in 16 starts since coming to Santa Anita, Kimura collected his first Southern California win in dramatic fashion, outdueling Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez aboard Ganadora  down to the wire in Sunday’s feature. The recipient of the 2019 Eclipse Award for apprentice jockey, Kimura journeyed to Santa Anita in hopes of competing amongst North America’s best riders until Woodbine opens its doors in April.

“It’s amazing (to get this win). I hope it keeps up,” Kimura said. “If I have the opportunity I’m going to follow the opportunity. I had my opportunity today (in the graded stakes) and I just hope more opportunities come up.”

Kimura did come into the La Canada with a slight advantage up his sleeve, having ridden Keith Abrahams' Kirstenbosch to a third-place finish in the Dec. 26 La Brea Stakes (G1) over the Santa Anita oval.

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“I knew from riding her in the La Brea she’s a horse I would have to push along the whole way,” Kimura said. “She’s a one-pace horse. But she kept digging in and I just tried to stick with Johnny. She had the momentum which was good for me.”

Kirstenbosch, an improving 4-year-old daughter of Midnight Lute  , raced off the pace early on in the La Canada, just as she had in the La Brea. As expected, Ganadora, one of the two favorites for trainer Bob Baffert, streaked to the lead under Velazquez and carved out opening fractions of :23.12 and :47.18. Facing fair pressure from Angel Nadeshiko , Ganadora repelled a stiff challenge from that rival at the top of the lane while Kirstenbosch, already kept to a steady drive under Kimura, rallied late down the center of the track. Reaching for the wire, Kirstenbosch pushed her nose in front of a game Ganadora just in time, stopping the clock in a time of 1:44.19 for the 1 1/16-mile distance on a fast main track.

Smoothlikebuttah  got up for third, 2 3/4 lengths behind the top two.

Ganadora’s stablemate, Under the Stars , was eased by jockey Juan Hernandez on the far turn. The two-time graded stakes winner walked off the track following the race. Natural Colour , making her dirt debut in the La Canada, was also eased and walked off.

A homebred for Abrahams and trained by John Sadler, Kirstenbosch ($8.60) improved her bankroll to $334,480 with her first graded stakes tally and third win from 10 career starts.

Kirstenbosch is out of the graded stakes-placed Belong to Me mare Llandudno, who has produced three winners from three foals to race. Her half sister Constantia  (Munnings  ) captured the 2021 Mizdirection Stakes and was runner-up in the San Monrovia Stakes (G2T) that same year for Abrahams and Sadler. Llandudno has a weanling full brother to Kirstenbosch.

Video: La Canada S. (G3)