Two graded stakes wins at Del Mar lead the panel of racing experts to vote Juan Hernandez Jockey of the Week for July 31 through Aug. 6. The award recognizes jockeys for riding accomplishments and who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 1,050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.
With only two mounts over the weekend in designated races because of a riding infraction suspension, Hernandez was still able to demonstrate why is he is the leading rider in southern California.
On Saturday, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert gave a leg up to Hernandez on Adare Manor in the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch, the feature of the day. Off as the overwhelming favorite in the compact field of five, Adare Manor shadowed the speedy early leader, Elm Drive. Adare Manor drew on even terms with Elm Drive while Desert Dawn tried to make a race of it. Near the sixteenth pole, Adare Manor took over and won by a length in 1:43.33 for 1 1/16 miles. Desert Dawn finished in second while Elm Drive had to settle for third. The win was Adare Manor's fourth win in a row with Hernandez aboard.
“At the quarter pole I asked her to pick it up and she exploded to the wire,” Hernandez said. “She's a big filly; sometimes it takes a couple of jumps to keep her momentum.”
The Clement L. Hirsch is a “Win and You're In,” granting Adare Manor a fees paid berth in the G1 Breeders' Cup Distaff.
“I'm excited for her,” Hernandez said. “She has been good to me. I think she can make it.”
On Sunday, Hernandez found his way to the winner's circle again as the pilot of Maltese Falcon in the G3 La Jolla Handicap on the turf. Trained by Leonard Powell, Maltese Falcon went off as the lukewarm favorite in the field of eight 3-year-olds. Hernandez bided his time as Maltese Falcon raced inside all the way around tracking Agency and Justin's Legacy. Near the sixteenth pole, Maltese Falcon slipped through and kicked clear for a one-length win in 1:44.20 for the 1 1/16-mile trip.
The win was the first in the La Jolla for Hernandez but his 36th overall at Del Mar.
“Leonard Powell told me he would have a good kick at the end,” Hernandez said. “I know he just broke his maiden, but what a way to do it. This will be a good horse.”
Hernandez leads the jockey standings at Del Mar with 15 wins and more than $1.2 million in total purses.
Other contenders for Jockey of the Week included John McKee with eight wins for the week, Irad Ortiz, Jr. with three graded stakes wins at Saratoga including the G1 Whitney, Flavien Prat with two graded stakes wins including the G1 Saratoga Derby Invitational, and Edgard Zayas who also won eight races for the week.
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