The early-season dominance of jockey Juan Hernandez at Santa Anita was on full display again on Friday when with six mounts, the 30-year-old native of Veracruz, Mexico booted home three winners that included a sweep of the early daily double.
Hernandez entered Sunday having won at a 30 percent clip during the Classic Meet and his 16 wins are more than triple that of his next closest pursuers in the jockey's standings. The fast start at Santa Anita, which includes six stakes wins with two Grade 1s, follows what was a breakout season in 2022 for the jockey.
“It's been great,” Hernandez said Friday after riding Brutto to victory for Bob Baffert in the day's second race. “We've been riding really good horses. The owners and trainers have supported me a lot.”
Last year, Hernandez won his first riding title at Santa Anita and followed that up by winning the Del Mar summer meet. According to Equibase statistics, he finished 2022 ranked ninth nationally in both wins (211) and purse earnings ($15,018,55). In addition, his 30 graded stakes wins last year surpassed his previous career total of 26.
Hernandez is represented by Craig O'Bryan, a veteran jockey's agent who has worked with some of racing's legendary riders. He made a lofty comparison when discussing Hernandez Friday morning.
“He's just a really good rider,” O'Bryan noted. “I would like to say I'm shocked or surprised, but he's just so cool. He reminds me of another jockey I had. Eddie Delahoussaye. They rise to the occasion.” Delahoussaye won 6,384 races during a Hall of Fame career including two Kentucky Derbys and seven Breeders' Cup races.
“The good ones, I can't really put my finger on it, but they just don't make mistakes,” O'Bryan said. “He's riding with a lot of confidence and riding for a lot of the right people.”
For Hernandez, the ascent has been fast since he moved his tack south in 2020 after being a runaway leading rider at Golden Gate Fields in Northern California.
“When I came from Mexico, the first time I got here my goals were to ride with the best jockeys and win the best races,” Hernandez said. “Sometimes when you move to a new track it can take a while (to find success). It's not easy. We have a really good colony of riders. I'm just happy to be riding with them because you learn from them.”
O'Bryan noted that such a thoughtful outlook has been a key factor to Hernandez's rise to national acclaim.
“In any sport, the ones that tend to get to the top are smart. They just get it and Juan gets it,” O'Bryan said.
As he looks ahead, Hernandez said he still has some goals that are as-yet unfulfilled. Most notably, winning a Breeders' Cup race and Kentucky Derby. Hernandez has never ridden in the Kentucky Derby and is 0-for-9 with two runners-up at the Breeders' Cup.
“When I was a little kid and a 'bug boy' I always dreamed of riding in the Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup,” said Hernandez, who was raised on a farm in Mexico. “I've had the opportunity to ride in the Breeders' Cup for four years. I haven't won, but I've been close. I'm going to keep working and hopefully get one of those soon.”
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