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05/04 21:03 CDT Kentucky Derby victory aboard Mystik Dan provides signature win
for jockey Brian Hernandez Jr.
Kentucky Derby victory aboard Mystik Dan provides signature win for jockey
Brian Hernandez Jr.
By GARY B. GRAVES
AP Sports Writer
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) --- Brian Hernandez Jr. will need a minute to digest his
signature victory in the 150th Kentucky Derby.
Maybe even more time since the milestone derby capped the best weekend of a
jockey career spent mostly under the radar.
The Louisiana native rode Mystik Dan to an epic win Saturday at Churchill
Downs, sliding past favorite Fierceness along the rail at the final turn and
holding off Sierra Leone and Forever Young by a nose in an epic three-horse
photo finish. Hernandez wasn't even sure he had won until seeing the replay and
keeping his eyes glued to the flat screen that showed the continuous loop.
"I'm like, woo, I think we just won the Kentucky Derby," the 38-year-old said.
"But then those horses, they were so far out there, you couldn't really see
them. And then they surged so quickly.
"I was like, ?Oh man, I hope we won. I hope we won.' And then when they hung up
our number, it was just instant relief."
Hernandez's derby victory aboard Mystik Dan at 18-1 odds came a day after he
rode filly Thorpedo Anna to a wire-to-wire rout by 4 3/4 lengths in the 150th
Kentucky Oaks. That made him the first jockey to complete the Derby/Oaks double
since Hall of Famer Calvin Borel achieved the feat aboard Mine That Bird and
filly Rachel Alexandra, respectively, in 2009. Kenny McPeek became the first
trainer to earn the double since Ben Jones in 1952.
"We came into the weekend thinking we had really good chances both Friday and
Saturday," Hernandez added. "To have the horses pull it off for us, we really
have to thank all the guys back in the barn.
"I don't know how long it's going to take to sink in. It's definitely a surreal
moment."
Hernandez's victory was fitting since he studied Borel's derby wins aboard Mine
That Bird and Super Saver (2010), along with being around him during 20 years
of racing in Kentucky. Those lessons paid off as he broke through after four
derby finishes ranging from eighth to 12th, including 11th last May on Sun
Thunder.
His seminal moment shouldn't have been shocking considering Hernandez already
had an Eclipse Award to his name as top apprentice rider in 2004 along with two
Breeders' Cup wins, including the 2012 Classic with Fort Larned. He also was
third in the Preakness two years ago with Creative Minister and has a slew of
graded stakes wins.
Winning the Kentucky Derby brings a whole different type of recognition, along
with a sparkling title that will precede Hernandez for the rest of his life.
McPeek asserted immediately afterward that the rider can no longer be
considered underrated after a "brilliant" ride and called the gutsy inside path
taken to victory typical for the jockey.
"He knows what to do there," McPeek said. "I always had a world of confidence
in him. Rarely second-guess anything he does."
However, the victory created a travel issue for Hernandez, who had planned on
head to Louisiana on Sunday morning for a jazz festival. It's a switch he was
more than willing to make after two remarkable days that demonstrated what the
right mounts can yield.
"You know, it's horse racing, it's not jockey racing," said Hernandez, who
planned to celebrate with his wife on Saturday night. "Just about any jockey
out there, if they have the right horse, they can get them to the winner's
circle. You just you have to be willing to put in the time and the effort to
find the right horses."
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AP Kentucky Derby coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/kentucky-derby
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