Kimura celebrates first victory at Woodbine

TORONTO, June 9, 2018 – Kazushi Kimura celebrated his first career win as an apprentice jockey at Woodbine Racetrack, pulling off a 70-1 surprise aboard Tornado Cat on the Woodbine Oaks undercard.

In just his 11th Canadian start and with his only mount on the 12-race program, the 18-year-old rider from Japan guided Tornado Cat to victory in the second race for trainer Shelley Fitzgerald, who co-owns with Martin Wickins and Patrice Likamshum.

Kimura worked out a ground-saving trip aboard the five-year-old homebred mare Tornado Cat, who trailed the field of 10 early on in the 6-1/2 furlong mares claiming race and advanced along the rail, eventually overtaking the dueling leaders in the stretch. Tornado Cat prevailed by three-quarters of a length in 1:18.36 over the late-rallying Khawlah and Conquer The Course.

Tornado Cat returned a whopping $142.10 to his backers for the upset win. The two-time winning Gayego mare had also provided Isabelle Wenc with her first Woodbine win last August.

Kimura, who completed 2-1/2 years of horse racing school in Japan, made his Canadian debut on May 27 at Woodbine finishing second in rein to Abogada. He now sports a record reading 1-3-2 in 11 starts.