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BEYOND LOCAL: Woodbine jockey Kimura earns second straight Kentucky Derby mount

Kimura, who won a third straight Woodbine riding title last year, will be aboard T O Password, a Japanese colt that has won both lifetime starts
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Kazushi Kimura parades Japanese horse Mandarin Hero prior to the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 6, 2023, in Louisville, Ky. Woodbine jockey Kazushi Kimura will be riding in the Kentucky Derby for a second straight year.THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Julio Cortez

Woodbine jockey Kazushi Kimura will be riding in the Kentucky Derby for a second straight year.

Kimura, who won a third straight Woodbine riding title last year, will be aboard T O Password, a Japanese colt that has won both lifetime starts.

"I am very excited to be riding in the Derby again,” Kimura told Woodbine communications. "I’d like to thank the connections of T O Password for this great opportunity.

"Hopefully, we can make this a memorable day for the entire team."

Last year, Kimura finished 12th aboard Mandarin Hero.

Kimura was Woodbine's top jockey last season with 161 wins and over $7.1 million in earnings. He captured the 2019 Eclipse Award as North America's outstanding apprentice and earned the Sovereign Awards in Canada in both 2018 and 2019.

Kimura has been Canada's top rider in 2021-22 and is a finalist again this year.

The Kentucky Derby will be held May 4 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 3, 2024.

The Canadian Press