Kimura to Team With Mandarin Hero in Santa Anita Derby

Japanese import Mandarin Hero, who has traveled to the United States to race in the April 8 Santa Anita Derby (G1), arrived at Barn 121 at Santa Anita March 31 after spending the previous two days at a quarantine facility near Los Angeles International Airport.

Mandarin Hero’s first steps @santaanitapark as he gets ready to be the first Japanese horse to compete in the Santa Anita Derby. #マンダリンヒーロー #SAダービー pic.twitter.com/IFfRIOkjN1

— Evers (@A_Evers) March 31, 2023

Mandarin Hero is set to become the first horse from Japan's National Association of Racing to compete in the U.S. when he goes postward in the 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby, and when he competes, he will have a Japanese native on his back. Kazushi Kimura, leading rider at Woodbine the past two years and one of the regulars in the Santa Anita jockeys' room this winter and spring, will ride.

"I'm really proud of this opportunity," Kimura said March 31.

Trained by Terunobu Fujita for owner Hiroaki Arai, Mandarin Hero was a perfect 4-for-4 last year at Oi Racecourse near Tokyo before running a fast-closing second by a neck in his lone start this year Feb. 2, also at Oi.

A dark brown colt by Shanghai Bobby , Mandarin Hero will remain under quarantine conditions at Santa Anita with restricted access. Joining him on the trip from Japan were both his groom and exercise rider. Mandarin Hero will also need to be accompanied by a veterinarian each morning when he visits the track.

Kimura, North America's Eclipse Award outstanding apprentice jockey in 2019, has ridden full-time at Santa Anita during the current meet. In 100 mounts here entering Saturday, Kimura had 10 wins including three stakes. He is scheduled to ride at Santa Anita through April 9 before returning to Toronto to prepare for Woodbine's meet opener  April 22. He is to return periodically to Santa Anita to ride in lucrative stakes.

Over the weekend of April 29-30, Kimura is slated to ride Duvet Day  for trainer Michael McCarthy in the Santa Barbara Stakes, and Kirstenbosch  in the Santa Maria Stakes (G2) for trainer John Sadler, according to his California agent Craig O'Bryan. Kimura won the Astra Stakes aboard Duvet Day at Santa Anita Jan. 21 and the La Canada Stakes (G3) with Kirstenbosch Jan. 15.

"I'm so satisfied with my time at Santa Anita," Kimura said. "To ride with guys like Frankie Dettori and John Velazquez has been like a dream. With some nice stakes horses also, it's just been great."

Entries for the Santa Anita Derby, as well as the remainder of the April 8 card, will be taken April 5. Among the headliners for the Santa Anita Derby are Practical Move  and Geaux Rocket Ride , 1-2 in the March 4 San Felipe Stakes (G2).