It's been a magical year for jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr., who rides the best 3-year-old filly in the country in Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) and one of the best 3-year-old males in Mystik Dan (Goldencents). For the veteran rider that has meant wins in the GI Kentucky Oaks, the GI Kentucky Derby, the GI Acorn S. and the GI Coaching Club American Oaks. Thorpedo Anna will take on the boys in her next scheduled start, the GI DraftKings Travers S.
Appearing on the TDN Writers' Room Podcast, presented by Keeneland, Hernandez said his good fortune has yet to sink in. He was this week's Green Group Guest of the Week.
“It's still surreal,” the 38-year-old jockey said. “I don't think it's ever going to sink in. I've talked to other jockeys that have won the Derby before and they say that, no, it doesn't ever sink in. Then you're sitting somewhere by yourself and you're like, 'man, wow, we really won the Kentucky Derby.' It's a life goal achievement.”
Can he add a Travers win onto his growing list of 2024 accomplishments?
“It's going to be another tough goal for her,” he said. “But at the same time, she's done everything we've asked of her so far. So, we're going to go into the Travers thinking she's the best 3-year-old in the country right now. We'll be very hopeful and excited. It's one of those situations where, when you get a great filly like she happens to be, that you have to go ahead and give her the test. She's dominated the fillies so far. So you have to kind of up the game on her. Just let her show how good she really is.”
Hernandez has won all the aforementioned races for trainer Kenny McPeek, who rides him whenever he can. McPeek's confidence in Hernandez has clearly given him a big boost to his career.
“My relationship with Kenny has to go back to a guy that hasn't gotten a whole lot of credit so far. It's my agent, Frank Bernis,” Hernandez said. “He and Kenny work so well together that he does all the entries for Kenny. He's doing all the entries right now for Kenny at Saratoga and Ellis, and he's handling all this business. They just work so well together. And then I've been fortunate enough to have Kenny in my corner. It helps in my situation where I know I'm going out there that I am riding these good horses and these better races. I don't have to worry about getting taken off.”
In our breeding spotlight section, we took a look at the WinStar stallion Nashville (Speightstown).
Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by the
Pennsylvania Horse Breeders' Association, West Point Thoroughbreds, WinStar, XBTV.com, Stonestreet Farm and the KTOB, the team of Randy Moss, Zoe Cadman and Bill Finley reviewed last weekend's racing action, including the win in the GII Jim Dandy by Fierceness (City of Light) and the feel-good story of The Chosen Vron (Vronsky) winning the GI Bing Crosby for the second straight year. We also previewed the huge Saturday card at Saratoga, which includes three Grade I races.
To watch the Writers' Room, click here. To view the show as a podcast, click here.
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