Brian Hernandez Jr. | Horse Racing Free Tips

Battle Is On Between Hernandez Jr., Gaffalione For Churchill Meet Title

Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. entered Sunday's closing day program of the September Meet in pursuit of his second leading rider title at Churchill Downs and held a two-win margin, 14-12, over five-time titlist Tyler Gaffalione.

Hernandez, who recorded his 700th career win beneath the Twin Spires Thursday and winner of the 2018 Spring Meet title, had mounts in Races 8-10 while five-time local leader Gaffalione had calls in Races 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10.

Jockey Joe Talamo entered Sunday in third with 10 wins but would have to win with all five of his mounts (Races 3, 4, 7, 8 and 10) to surpass Hernandez.

In the leading trainer standings, Kenny McPeek held an 8-7 win lead over Steve Asmussen. McPeek, a three-time Churchill Downs leading trainer, had four horses entered across three races (7, 8 and 10) while record 24-time leading trainer Asmussen had six runners in four races (6, 7, 9 and 10). Dale Romans, a 14-time Churchill Downs top trainer, was third in the standings with six wins and could tie McPeek with two entries (8 and 10).

The partnership of WinStar Farm (2018 September Meet co-leading owners) and Siena Farm led all owners with three wins but does not have any entries Sunday. Columbine Stable and Lothenbach Stables were both one win behind. Columbine Stable, winner of the 2019 Fall Meet title, had one entry in Race 6 while Lothenbach Stables had runners in Races 3 and 10. Courtlandt Farms could tie WinStar Farm and Siena Farm with entrants in Races 9 and 10.

All presentations for the September Meet champions will take place in the Woodford Reserve Winner's Circle immediately after the final race of the meet.

Racing in Kentucky will transition to Keeneland for their Fall Meet beginning on Oct. 8. The Churchill Downs Fall Meet will begin Sunday, Oct. 31 with “Stars of Tomorrow I” featuring all 2-year-old races. For more information, visit www.churchilldowns.com.

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Brian Hernandez Jr. 12th Jockey To Ride 700 Churchill Downs Winners

Brian Hernandez Jr. became only the 12th jockey in Churchill Downs history to ride 700 winners at the Louisville, Ky., home of the Kentucky Derby when the 35-year-old won Thursday's third race aboard Dream On It for trainer Dallas Stewart.

Hernandez Jr., who began riding professionally in 2003, won his first race at Churchill Downs aboard Machine to Tower on May 27, 2004. Overall, the native of Lafayette, La., has won 2,233 races and his mounts have amassed more than $95.7 million from 16,164 starts during an 18-year riding career.

He won the Eclipse Award in 2004 as the nation's champion apprentice jockey. In 2012, Hernandez Jr. won the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita aboard Fort Larned for his biggest career win.

The top 12 jockeys in races won at Churchill Downs: 1. Pat Day (2,482), 2. Calvin Borel (1,232), 3. Robby Albarado (1,192), 4. Corey Lanerie (1,151), 5. Julien Leparoux (982), 6. Don Brumfield (925), 7. Larry Melancon (914), 8. Jim McKnight (883), 9. Charlie Woods Jr. (757), 10. Shane Sellers (738), 11. Shaun Bridgmohan (728) and 12. Brian Hernandez Jr. (700).

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King Fury Dominant In Bourbon Trail Stakes At Churchill

Fern Circle Stables and Three Chimney Farm LLC's King Fury proved he was much the best in the inaugural running of the $275,000 Bourbon Trail ® for 3-year-olds on Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., as he widen his advantage without urging down the stretch en route to a 13-length romp over Bourbon Thunder.

Trained by Kenny McPeek and ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., King Fury covered the 1 3/16 miles on a fast main track in 1:56.01, just :04 off Idol's 2020 track record of 1:55.97.

“He was really impressive today,” McPeek said. “We're very proud of how he ran. He's a really talented horse and showed that today.”

The field of seven sophomores was compact heading into the first turn as King's Ovation emerged with a slight advantage over Dr. Jack through moderate early clips of :23.71 and :48.13. Heading onto the backstretch, King Fury was rated in sixth but was only a couple of lengths off the lead. After a half-mile, King Fury was advanced through a seam by Hernandez and drew within striking distance. Dr. Jack took over on the turn after six furlongs in 1:12.05 but King Fury loomed on the outside, took command leaving the final turn, and powered home down the stretch as Hernandez sat still in the saddle except to throw a couple of crosses with the reins.

The victory was worth $166,710 and increased King Fury's earnings to $579,449 with a record of 4-1-0 in 10 starts. Three of his wins have come at Churchill Downs, including a maiden win and stakes victory in the $98,000 Street Sense last year as a 2-year-old.

Previously, King Fury finished fifth of seven in the $1.25 million Grade 1 Travers at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Earlier this year, he won the $200,000 Grade 3 Lexington at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., and finished second to Masqueparade in the $500,000 Grade 3 Ohio Derby at Thistledown in North Randall, Ohio.

“With a horse like this, you just really have to stay out of their way,” Hernandez Jr. said. “He's run in some tough races this year and today he was able to settle in nicely at the rail around the first turn and turning for home he got clear and was much the best.”

King Fury is a Kentucky-bred son of Curlin out of the Grade I-winning Flatter mare Taris and was bred by Heider Family Stables. Fern Circle Stables' Paul Fireman paid $950,000 to acquire King Fury at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga Select Yearling Sale.

King Fury returned $3.00, $2.60, and $2.10 as the odds-on 1-2 favorite. Bourbon Thunder, who rallied for second under Chris Landeros, returned $4.20 and $3.20 with Dr Jack finishing another 1 ¼ lengths back in third under Tyler Gaffalione and paying $3 to show.

It was another 3 ¼ lengths back to Sermononthemount, who was followed in order by King's Ovation, Gagetown, and Angkor.

The Bourbon Trail ® honors the profound history and proud tradition of “America's Official Native Spirit” when the Kentucky Distillers' Association (KDA) established the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® in 1999, a road trip-style experience for bourbon lovers to visit the Bluegrass State's signature distilleries.

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail ® and Bourbon Trail ® are trademarks/service marks of the Kentucky Distillers' Association used by Churchill Downs Inc. pursuant to license. The Kentucky Distillers' Association and its member distilleries ask that you please enjoy Kentucky Bourbon responsibly.

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Trainer Oliver, Jockey Bejarano Celebrate Multi-Win Day At Ellis Park Saturday

Trainer Vicki Oliver and jockey Rafael Bejarano proved the stars of Saturday's first day of Kentucky Downs Preview Weekend at the RUNHAPPY Meet at Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky., teaming for three victories, with the rider winning four overall.

Oliver brought two 3-year-old fillies from her Keeneland base. But instead of running both Flippant and Core Values in the $100,000 Kentucky Downs TVG Preview Dueling Grounds Oaks, she opted to put Core Values in against boys in the $100,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Dueling Grounds Derby. That resulted in a nose victory over favored Royal Prince, with Flippant winning the $100,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Dueling Grounds Oaks two races later by a half-length over Caldee.

The trainer and jockey also teamed to take the third race, a $52,000 turf allowance sprint, with the 4-year-old filly Never Forget, who is out of the same mare (Frivolous) as Flippant. Both fillies are owned by breeder G. Watts Humphrey, the trainer's dad.

Bejarano's big day started with victory in the second race aboard Casino Star in an optional claiming $40,000 allowance race.

Oliver said it was only the second time in her career that she'd won three races on a card, the last time coming in June 19, 2006, at The Meadowlands' all-grass meet. She said it was her first time winning two stakes.

Oliver said she's hoping to run all three winning fillies in stakes at Kentucky Downs' meet in early September.

“I love Kentucky Downs. Love Ellis Park, and it's fun to be here supporting them,” she said. “I think it's fantastic they have this day. It's great for all of us who stay here and support the Kentucky circuit. It keeps us staying here. And we get a leg up to get into Kentucky Downs for that.”

Meet-leading trainer Brad Cox — who was busy winning Saratoga's Grade 1 Whitney Stakes with Knicks Go (an Ellis Park 2-year-old winner and runner-up in the Ellis Park Derby) — won the first of the stakes quartet as Shared Sense took the $65,000 Tri-State Overnight Stakes under Brian Hernandez Jr. Trainer Brendan Walsh — at Saratoga, where he was second in the Whitney with Maxfield, who trained all summer as a 2-year-old at Ellis Park — captured the $100,000 Kentucky Downs TVG Preview Turf Sprint with favored Born Great, ridden by Adam Beschizza.

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