Mandarin Hero jockey, trainer and owner: What to know about Kentucky Derby 2023 horse
Mandarin Hero is one of 20 horses expected to enter the Kentucky Derby on May 6 at Churchill Downs.
Spots for the Kentucky Derby are earned by gaining points through a series of prep races that began in September.
Post time for the Kentucky Derby is set for 6:57 p.m. on Saturday, May 6.
Mandarin Hero will enter the Kentucky Derby off a second-place finish in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 8. He currently ranks 19th on the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard with 40.
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Mandarin Hero
Color: Dark bay/brown
Bred in: Japan
Sire: Shanghai Bobby
Dam: Namura Nadeshiko, by Fuji Kiseki
Price tag: N/A
Owner: Hiroaki Arai, first Derby
Trainer: Terunobu Fujita, first Derby
Jockey: Kazushi Kimura, first Derby
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Record: 4-2-0 in six starts
Career earnings: $386,854
Road to the Kentucky Derby points: 40 (No. 19)
Last race: Second in Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 8
Running style: Middle of the pack
Notes: Mandarin Hero got into the Kentucky Derby field off the also-eligible list after Thursday’s scratch of Wood Memorial winner Lord Miles. … Mandarin Hero is one of three Japan-breds set to run in the Kentucky Derby, joining Derma Sotogake and Continuar. Mandarin Hero is the only one of the three to have prepped in the United States. … Mandarin Hero was 20-1 in the morning-line odds announced at Monday’s draw.
What they’re saying: “I’m so proud of him,” Fujita said after the Santa Anita Derby. “I thought he would not handle the early pace, but he did. I believed he would have a good acceleration in the final stretch as usual. And he did it. Kazushi Kimura gave a really good ride. He made him accelerate at the final stretch. I thought he was going to win. I’m just so excited right now.”
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @KentuckyDerbyCJ.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky Derby 2023 horse Mandarin Hero: Trainer, jockey and owner
