Brian Hernandez Jr. had a weekend most jockeys can solely dream about as he gained each the Might 3 Longines Kentucky Oaks with Thorpedo Anna and the Might 4 Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve with Mystik Dan at Churchill Downs.
It’s a dream come true for the 38-year-old rider from Lafayette, La. When he was a child, he would inform anybody who would pay attention that he would sooner or later win the Kentucky Derby. He got here by means of on his promise with a gutsy, rail-skimming transfer that helped put Mystik Dan far sufficient forward within the stretch to carry off rallies from runner-up Sierra Leone and third-place finisher Ceaselessly Younger.
Hernandez spoke with BloodHorse about profitable the Kentucky Derby, how his profession has unfolded, and extra.
BloodHorse: What did it really feel like whenever you crossed the end line within the Kentucky Derby with Mystik Dan?
Brian Hernandez Jr.: You had been like, I’m both going to be a hero or a zero. You both simply gained the Kentucky Derby otherwise you obtained beat a nostril. I wasn’t positive if we gained, so we galloped out to [outrider] Greg [Blasi]. The jocks behind me saved congratulating me and I’m wanting round like ‘Did I win?’ I saved asking Greg, ‘Greg, did we win?’ Lastly, after about 30 or 40 seconds, he goes, ‘The stewards are saying you gained, however they haven’t hung up the quantity but.’ For the following couple of minutes, we simply needed to wait it out till they lastly hung up our quantity. As soon as they lastly did, it was like a complete achievement of pleasure.
BloodHorse: At what level within the stretch did you understand Sierra Leone and Ceaselessly Younger had been coming after you?
Hernandez: After we straightened for residence and I referred to as on him and he sprinted away, I used to be like, ‘Oh wow, we’re about to win the Kentucky Derby.’ He was simply operating so exhausting that I used to be by no means nervous about anyone operating him down. However then proper as we obtained to the wire, these horses surged so quick. That was the one level I used to be nervous that we would have gotten beat. However apart from that, I assumed he was a winner the entire means.
BloodHorse: When you formally obtained phrase that you just had gained, clarify the thrill that ran by means of you in that second.
Hernandez: It’s only a surreal second. I’ve heard guys earlier than say that as they’re profitable the Kentucky Derby their complete profession flashes earlier than their eyes. That didn’t occur to me. I feel it was extra of ‘I can’t consider this simply occurred.’ I used to be extra pleased with the horse greater than something. I used to be joyful for him and it was an incredible second for him to go on the market and win the largest race on the planet.
BloodHorse: Whenever you see them bringing the garland of roses over, what was that second like?
Hernandez: That’s when it began to sink in. The most important second was after we had been strolling up the Derby steps [at the winner’s circle pagoda]. I’ve been round right here at Churchill for the final 20 years and I’ve at all times advised myself that I’m by no means going into that Derby winner’s circle till I can go there as a Kentucky Derby winner. As we had been strolling up the Derby steps, I needed to cease for a second and my spouse, Jamie, came visiting. She goes, ‘Are you OK? Are you going to go out?’ I’m like, ‘No, simply give me a second. I want a second to soak this in.’ That is surreal. I must pinch myself to say, ‘Hey, we’re strolling up the Kentucky Derby winner’s circle steps.’ It was loopy.
BloodHorse: The place did the eagerness for horses come from?
Hernandez: My dad. My dad [Brian Sr.] rode for 20 years. Myself and my little brother Colby — who helped us out right here within the mornings fairly a bit. He labored in firm with us on each [Thorpedo Anna] and [Mystik Dan] the previous few works. So we obtained to thank him quite a bit.
It was simply rising up round horses. We grew up on just a little farm down there in Louisiana and we’ve at all times had horses within the yard, began galloping horses early on. And it’s simply one thing that we’ve grown up into.
BloodHorse: Might you ever have imagined again then that you’d find yourself right here?
Hernandez: No, however as a younger child, I’d at all times experience my bicycle round and inform my mother and pop that I’m going to win the Kentucky Derby. And to lastly do it — I obtained up this morning and I advised my spouse, ‘We didn’t win the Kentucky Derby, that didn’t occur.’ It’s simply unbelievable.
BloodHorse: Whenever you had been driving that bike as a child, had been you imagining coming right down to the wire within the Kentucky Derby?
Hernandez: Yeah! We used to have dad’s jock pants on and I put the white underwear on prime, as a result of they had been too large, into silks and experience round telling all people that I’m going to win the Kentucky Derby. So to really do it, it’s loopy.
BloodHorse: What led to your resolution to begin driving at Churchill Downs repeatedly, and why have you ever caught round for 20 years?
Hernandez: Once I had the bug down there at Delta Downs, I used to be driving night time playing cards and going to highschool. Shane Sellers was over on the Honest Grounds driving and he’d are available on Saturdays to experience stakes. He advised me early on ‘Hey, whenever you graduate highschool, I’ve an agent for you right here in Kentucky. We’re going to have you ever all arrange.’ So, he had me arrange together with his agent on the time, which was Fred Aime, a legendary jockey agent right here in Kentucky. Shane took care of me … him and Freddie. I used to be an 18-year-old child. I graduated highschool [in Louisiana] and moved [to Kentucky].
BloodHorse: What was that adjustment like shifting to experience in Kentucky at such a younger age?
Hernandez: There have been some powerful instances. There was a pair instances the place we had been going to pack it in and transfer again residence to Louisiana. I gained the Eclipse Award [for outstanding apprentice jockey in 2004] with the bug and struggled for a couple of years after that. We simply form of labored our means by means of and obtained fortunate. I ended up selecting up [jockey agent] Frank Bernis 12 years in the past and the very first yr I had him we obtained fortunate and began working with Ian Wilkes and gained the Breeders’ Cup Basic that yr [with Fort Larned].
BloodHorse: Would you take into account Fort Larned a turning level in your profession?
Hernandez: Fort Larned was undoubtedly a turning level in my profession as a result of that summer time earlier than Fort Larned, my spouse and I had been simply getting married. We had been truly packing up and I used to be going to Arlington Park for the summer time as a result of we didn’t have a lot enterprise right here in Kentucky.
We obtained fortunate. The autumn earlier than that, I rode Fort Larned in [an allowance race at Churchill Downs]. The following summer time, Ian was operating him within the [Prairie Meadows] Cornhusker [Handicap] and he wanted a jock. I obtained fortunate and picked him up there within the Cornhusker and gained. Thank God for Mrs. [Janis] Whitham as a result of with out her, I is perhaps again shoveling stalls in Lafayette, La., as a result of they entrusted a mean jockey to go as much as Saratoga and experience [Fort Larned] within the Grade 1 Whitney. From there, Fort Larned took us to new heights from profitable the Whitney to profitable a Breeders’ Cup Basic at 27 years previous. It was a magical second. From there, [business] picked up. In the previous few years, we’ve attached with Kenny [McPeek] and he supplied us with some actually good horses.
BloodHorse: You’re solely the eighth jockey to win each the Oaks and the Derby on the identical weekend. How does that really feel, and does the very fact it was the one hundred and fiftieth version of every make it just a little additional particular?
Hernandez: Yeah, it makes it actually, actually particular. It’s simply an unbelievable accomplishment as a result of we got here into the weekend pondering we had some fairly good possibilities. Our horses had been doing unbelievably effectively, however on the similar time, all people’s horses are doing effectively. All people shoots for this weekend. When Thorpedo Anna went on the market and did what she did. She simply dominated to win by 4 [lengths]. It was an unbelievable feeling.
Going into [Derby], we had the Oaks beneath our wing. There was no strain, and that was the bizarre factor. I talked to Kenny about it [Derby] night time. We felt no strain. We went into the race just a little assured figuring out that our horse is an efficient horse. All we now have to do isn’t mess it up. That was the largest factor. Don’t get in his means, don’t give him an excuse to lose. We obtained the journey. It was precisely how we thought it might play out. After which after I referred to as on Mystik Dan, he was there for us and we gained the Kentucky Derby.
BloodHorse: Your rail-skimming experience took just a little inspiration from three-time Derby-winning jockey Calvin Borel, didn’t it?
Hernandez: I grew up right here in Kentucky watching Calvin experience these Derbys and watching him experience the rail all these years. I watched Mine That Hen’s [2009] Derby [ahead of the 2024 Derby] and it was unbelievable. He was up to now again. I used to be like, ‘I can’t give Mystik Dan that journey.’ Then I went again and watched his Tremendous Saver Derby [Derby ride in 2010] and he rode that horse out of the 4 gap such as you wouldn’t consider. It was form of the identical journey we had, in order that was what I wished to imitate.
BloodHorse: What was your night time like after profitable the Derby?
Hernandez: It was surreal. We did all of the media stuff after which we went to the Derby Museum for the toasts after which went upstairs and obtained cleaned up. We ended up at Jeff Ruby’s ’until like 12:30. We lastly made it to mattress at 3 and obtained up at 5:30.
BloodHorse: You talked about that you just had been on the Kentucky Derby Museum. What’s it going to be like watching your self on the finish of the film “The Best Race”?
Hernandez: [Derby night] we had been standing there they usually began to play it. Kenny appeared over and goes, ‘We’re not in it but, let’s get out of right here.’ So,. we left just a little early. However I advised him we’re going to be again after we’re on this factor. I’d stroll in there daily earlier than the races simply to go see it. It’s going to be a surreal second to say we had been a part of Kentucky Derby historical past.
