Another milestone for women in racing: Imamura wins Japanese Oaks

May 30, 2026 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Seina Imamura celebrates her Japanese Oaks victory aboard Juryoku Pierrot (Photo by Tomoya Moriuchi/Horsephotos.com)

Seina Imamura became the first female jockey to win a Japanese classic (Photo by Tomoya Moriuchi/Horsephotos.com)

About three weeks after Cherie DeVaux made history as the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby (G1) winner in Golden Tempo, Seina Imamura scored a breakthrough as the first female jockey to win a classic race in Japan.

Imamura’s historic achievement came in the May 24 Yushun Himba (G1), the “Japanese Oaks” at Tokyo, where she steered Juryoku Pierrot to a thrilling come-from-behind victory by a neck. Watch her in the white blinkers, pink cap, as she advances from far back, through the midst of the field, and splits rivals late:

The Yushun Himba is dubbed the Japanese Oaks because its conditions resemble the original Oaks (G1) at Epsom. Both are prestigious races for three-year-old fillies held at about 1 1/2 miles on turf.

Our Kentucky Oaks (G1), although contested on dirt, was similarly inspired by the Epsom Oaks – just as the Kentucky Derby echoed the Epsom Derby (G1). Indeed, both the Kentucky Derby and Oaks began as 1 1/2-mile affairs in 1875 to match their English prototypes. The Kentucky Derby was trimmed to 1 1/4 miles in 1896. The Oaks was also shortened, ultimately settling at 1 1/8 miles.

Only one female jockey has won the Kentucky Oaks, Rosie Napravnik, and she did it twice. Napravnik’s trailblazing victory came in the 2012 Oaks aboard the 13.80-1 shot Believe You Can. Two years later, she scored on even-money favorite Untapable, who concluded her championship campaign in the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1).

Imamura’s landmark win in the Japanese Oaks came as something of an upset. Her mount, Juryoku Pierrot, went off as a 9.90-1 chance in an 18-filly field.

By the great Sunday Silence-line champion Orfevre, who swept Japan’s Triple Crown on turf in 2011, Juryoku Pierrot started her career on dirt. She won her debut, but failed to progress on the surface. Her last dirt try resulted in a seventh in the Dec. 20 Poinsettia S. at Hanshin. The runner-up in the Poinsettia was none other than Wonder Dean, the eventual UAE Derby (G2) hero and Kentucky Derby eighth-placer.

Juryoku Pierrot immediately thrived on the switch to turf, winning two straight including the Wasurenagusa Sho in last-to-first style. She thereby earned her chance at the top level in the Japanese Oaks.

Imamura, her regular rider, is formally associated with the stable of her trainer, Ryo Terashima. Even so, Terashima could well have decided to make a jockey change for the big day.

Female jockeys are rare on the Japan Racing Association (JRA) circuit, and a woman had never even ridden in a Japanese classic before. Yet Terashima kept faith that Imamura was the right jockey for Juryoku Pierrot, who has her idiosyncrasies, as you might expect for a daughter of the high-spirited Orfevre.

Moreover, Imamura had already compiled an historic resume as a rookie in 2022. Honored with the Best Jockey (Newcomer) Award, she set a JRA record for the most wins by a female rider in a single season (51).

Imamura, still only 22 years old, showed poise beyond her years in navigating Juryoku Pierrot through the Oaks. Keeping her filly calm in a patient ride, Imamura waited until the homestretch to thread through traffic, and Juryoku Pierrot surged in the final strides to get up by a neck.

The Tokyo crowd reacted with overwhelming enthusiasm, embracing Imamura’s historic moment as she brought Juryoku Pierrot to parade in front of the grandstand. You can get a sense of what it felt like by watching the view from Imamura’s jockey cam:

“It’s like I’m dreaming,” Imamura exulted. “I truly appreciate the support I have been getting towards my first classic challenge, and it is such an encouragement as a jockey, which makes me so happy to have chosen this career.”

It was especially meaningful for Imamura to make history in the Japanese Oaks, considering her own personal history. She grew up in racing, thanks to her father, Yasunari Imamura. A retired jockey who became a training assistant, he worked with champion filly Meisho Mambo, whose first major win came in the 2013 Japanese Oaks.

Meisho Mambo’s championship season helped to solidify Seina’s love for the sport, and her desire to become a jockey in her own right.

“Ever since my days at the JRA Horseracing School, I’ve always wanted to be a jockey who carves her name into history,” Imamura said. “But things didn't go easily, and I went through some tough times. However, I received so much encouragement from Terashima Stable and many others. I’m still only in my fifth year, so I am incredibly grateful to have been given the opportunity to ride on such a massive stage.”

Imamura praised Juryoku Pierrot for hitting top gear.

“There may have been concerns about how my filly would handle her first 2,400-meter distance, but I had every faith in her. She did get a little bit excited early in the stretch but calmed down nicely, and I was careful not to pull her back or shift lanes…then she responded with such power as she was taking me there (instead of my driving her) – she’s one tough girl.”

So is Imamura, and chances are this ground-breaking victory won’t be her last.

Juryoku Pierrot gets up to give Seina Imamura an historic win in the Japanese Oaks

Juryoku Pierrot gets up to give Seina Imamura an historic win in the Japanese Oaks (Photo by Tomoya Moriuchi/Horsephotos.com)

Seina Imamura celebrates her Japanese Oaks victory aboard Juryoku Pierrot (Photo by Tomoya Moriuchi/Horsephotos.com)

Seina Imamura celebrates her Japanese Oaks victory aboard Juryoku Pierrot (Photo by Tomoya Moriuchi/Horsephotos.com)

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