A top Japanese trainer having his first runner in the Kentucky Derby sparked widespread hilarity after appearing at an eve of race function “a little bit drunk”.
Hidetaka Otonashi, 68, is set to saddle Derma Sotogake, one of two Japanese horses in Saturday’s historic race at Churchill Downs. Derma Sotogake, who will be ridden by Christophe Lemaire, earned his place in the field for the £2.5 million US Classic by winning the UAE Derby by five and a half lengths in March.
The Yoshito Yahagi-trained Continuar, who was third in the race, is the other Japanese runner.
