A minor injury has temporarily sidelined jockey Kazushi Kimura from his scheduled rides at Santa Anita Park. The incident occurred during a starting-gate mishap on Thursday afternoon, resulting in Kimura missing three races on Friday. However, the skilled rider is expected to make a swift return on Saturday for the highly anticipated California Cup day, where he has six mounts lined up. Despite feeling some soreness, Kimura remains optimistic about participating in the upcoming races, as confirmed by his agent Brian Beach.

The accident took place just before the seventh race on Thursday when My Sister Lilly, a filly owned by R L Stables and trained by George Papaprodromou, became agitated near the starting gate. In the ensuing commotion, Kimura's left leg was caught between the gate, leading to the horse being scratched from the race on veterinary advice. This incident also led to Kimura being replaced for his last two assignments of the day. Daily Racing Form provided detailed coverage of the event, quoting Kimura’s agent regarding the jockey's condition.

Despite this setback, Kimura is set to take part in several key races over the weekend. On Saturday, he is slated to ride Big City Lights, the morning-line favorite in the Cal Cup Sprint. Additionally, he will be aboard Moment’s Pleasure in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint, as well as Musical Number in the Cal Cup Oaks. Furthermore, Kimura is scheduled to ride Ma Rae’s Girl in the Grade 3 Las Ciénegas Stakes on Sunday. Fans and racing enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting his return, hoping that he can secure victories in these important races.

While the past few days have been challenging for Kimura, his resilience and determination shine through as he prepares to rejoin the track. With high hopes and a strong lineup of horses, the jockey aims to make a remarkable comeback at Santa Anita Park, proving once again why he is a formidable presence in the racing world.