Kentucky Derby 2022: Jockey Lemaire reaches a milestone
Louisville, Ky.
Before he said a word, it was clear how Christophe Lemaire’s morning was going.
The broad smile on his face was evident before his full visage came into view, and as he approached a small gathering of media outside the Quarantine Barn at Churchill Downs, his eyes brightened while he stuck out his hand to greet those wanting to know how his first spin beneath the Twin Spires in more than a decade felt.
Even by his typical affable standards, Lemaire was beaming in the moments after guiding Teruya Yoshida’s Crown Pride through a half-mile breeze over the main track on May 4. Part of the inspiration for his good mood was the fact that the colt he is set to pilot for the first time was giving off ample positive signs in advance of the biggest race of his young career.
The main reason Japan’s five-time riding champion was exceptionally buoyant, however, is because he is days out from realizing a career milestone he wasn’t certain would ever materialize.
Already renowned as one of the world’s most talented riders, Lemaire will get the opportunity to add the world’s most famous Thoroughbred race to his resume when he rides UAE Derby (G2) winner Crown Pride in the 148th edition of the Kentucky Derby on May 7.
The 42-year-old native of France is well versed in celebrating on the sport’s biggest stages as he has hoisted the hardware in such top-level tests as the Melbourne Cup (G1), Dubai Sheema Classic (G1), and Two Thousand Guineas (G1). Given his base in Japan, though, his longtime aspiration of being able to line up in the 20-horse starting gate for the first leg of the American Triple Crown is something he knew would take a wild stroke of circumstances to come to fruition.
When Crown Pride earned a trip to Louisville by virtue of his 2 3/4-length victory in the March 26 UAE Derby, fate indeed fell in Lemaire’s favor shortly after. Australian jockey Damian Lane guided the son of Reach the Crown to his triumph at Meydan Racecourse, but trainer Koichi Shintani announced in early April that the veteran Lemaire would get the call for American classic.
“European jockeys and Asian jockeys, we don’t have a lot of chances to ride the Kentucky Derby so, as a horse racing lover, for me riding this race is kind of magic,” said Lemaire, who won the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf aboard Flotilla. “It was a dream, actually. Even with my experience, riding in many countries all around the world, to ride the Kentucky Derby was one of my wishes. Along with winning the Arc (de Triomphe) … my second wish was to at least ride the Kentucky Derby.
“It’s like going to Disneyland for a young kid.”
In addition to getting acquainted with Crown Pride, Lemaire’s time on the Churchill Downs track Wednesday morning served as refresher course of sorts as he has raced only three times over the historic oval – all on the turf – and has not visited since the 2011 Breeders’ Cup.
In preparation for the melee he is going to face when the gates spring open Saturday, Lemaire said he has watched replays of at least two decades of Kentucky Derby outcomes. What he has gleaned from all that homework is that the best laid plans often end up in the scrap heap by the time the field reaches the first turn.
“I think even if I had some plan, it would be difficult to ride as planned,” Lemaire said of the Derby. “It’s such a special race with 20 runners. We know that it is a very tough race, very rough sometimes. The start, of course, is very important, but in the meantime, you can’t force too much your horse to be close to the pace because the risk is to make him tired early on and that’s not the goal, you know.
“In American horse racing in general, it’s all about the fractions … but if you have to force your horse, it can be very tough. To be honest, I don’t know how it’s going to be or how I’m going to ride the horse. It depends on how he jumps from the gate, how he grabs the bit early on.”
Whether he is good enough to win remains to be seen, but Crown Pride has been one of the more visually impressive Derby contenders stretching their legs each morning. No matter the track conditions, the dark bay colt has showcased indefatigable energy and a balanced stride that Lemaire feels will serve him well when the waters get deep on Saturday.
“I was very happy with his footwork because it is important for the foreign horses to take a good turn and change (leads) at the right time,” Lemaire said. “I think all is set for him to make a great performance. He’s a strong horse, he’s a big horse. He got some experience now abroad, so we expect the best performance from him.”
The global stage has experienced firsthand the progress of the Japanese racing and breeding program as runners from that country won two Breeders’ Cup races at Del Mar last November, four of the six graded stakes on the Saudi Cup card, and five of the nine races on the Dubai World Cup lineup.
Crown Pride will become the fourth Japanese-based horse to compete in the Derby, and if momentum counts for anything, Lemaire’s upbeat demeanor will reach a new stratosphere Saturday evening.
“The Japanese horses are very competitive all around the world,” Lemaire said. “The recent victories gave everyone a lot of confidence, so as a jockey, I have confidence as well. The horse’s connections, they don’t want to travel to finish last and for sure, we have a horse who can have a great performance.
“Can you imagine if we win?”