Brian Joseph Hernandez Jr. (born November 3, 1985 in Lafayette, Louisiana) is an American Eclipse Award-winning jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing. He began riding professionally in 2003 and achieved his first win on November 29, 2003 at Louisiana's Delta Downs.[2] As of May 2024, he has over 2,500 victories.[1]
| Brian Hernandez Jr. | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Brian Hernandez Jr. in 2017 | |
| Occupation | Jockey |
| Born | November 3, 1985 Lafayette, Louisiana |
| Career wins | 2,588+ (ongoing)[1] |
| Major racing wins | |
| Louisiana Handicap (2004) Remington Springboard Mile Stakes (2004) Indiana Derby (2006, 2012) Edgewood Stakes (2007) Ack Ack Handicap (2012) Cornhusker Handicap (2012) Indiana Oaks (2012, 2023) Whitney Handicap (2012) Beaumont Stakes (2013) Illinois Derby (2013) Opening Verse Stakes (2016, 2020) Kentucky Oaks (2024)
American Classics/Breeders' Cup wins: | |
| Racing awards | |
| U.S. Champion Apprentice Jockey (2004) | |
| Significant horses | |
| Mystik Dan, Fort Larned, Thorpedo Anna, Rachel Alexandra, McCraken | |
In 2004, Hernandez won 243 races and was voted the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey. In 2009, he rode Rachel Alexandra to two wins in her first five starts.[3] On August 18, 2012, he won the 1,000th race of his career at Ellis Park Race Course[4] and on November 3, 2012, his 27th birthday, he won the Breeders' Cup Classic aboard Fort Larned at Santa Anita Park.[5]
In 2024, Hernandez became the ninth jockey in history and the first since Calvin Borel in 2009 to win both the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby in the same year. He won the Oaks aboard Thorpedo Anna then won the Derby the following day on Mystik Dan. Both horses were trained by Ken McPeek.[6][7]
In an interview, Hernandez Jr. told The Blood-Horse "as a young kid, I'd always ride my bicycle around and tell my mom and dad that I'm going to win the Kentucky Derby".[8]
Year-end charts
edit| Chart (2004–present) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2004 | 45 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2005 | 95 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2009 | 53 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2010 | 94 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2012 | 20 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2013 | 37 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2014 | 51 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2015 | 32 |
References
edit- ^ a b "Jockey Profile | Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr". Equibase. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ Post Times. "Brian Hernandez Jr. profile at Churchill Downs". Churchilldowns.com. Archived from the original on 2013-04-27. Retrieved 2013-04-21.
- ^ NYRA - Rachel Alexandria racing history[dead link]
- ^ Thoroughbred Times - August 18, 2012
- ^ Mitchell, Ron (November 3, 2012). "Fort Larned Wins Thrilling BC Classic". BloodHorse.com.
- ^ Li, David K. (May 4, 2024). "Mystik Dan wins 2024 Kentucky Derby in a dramatic photo finish". NBC News.
- ^ King, Byron (4 May 2024). "Mystik Dan Holds off Sierra Leone to Win Kentucky Derby". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ Collins, Sean (May 8, 2024). "BH Interview: Brian Hernandez Jr. Punches Through". Retrieved May 10, 2024.