Jockey hopes to fulfill childhood dream of winning Derby
mornings to work horses. He returns in the afternoons to ride. The folks around Barn 26, trainer Ian Wilkes’ barn on the Churchill backstretch, will tell you that Hernandez will make one and sometimes two trips back to the barn —– just to make certain that McCraken is feeling as wonderful as Hernandez is feeling.
“Brian is tremendous,” Wilkes said. “You can tell he’s excited and focused. We’re glad he’s on our horse.”
Insomnia is the typically the way it unfolds for jockeys who have yet to win their first Kentucky Derby. Hernandez, 31, has been aboard more than 12,000 horses in his career, one that began with him as an apprentice jockey at Churchill Downs.
McCraken is his second Derby mount. He finished 12th last year aboard Tom’s Ready.
“I rode against guys like Pat Day. You’ve just got to bide your time and hopefully one time the owners find the right horses for you.
“Now, luckily, we’re in the situation with the better horses. It’s like anything else. Just like if you’re playing baseball you’ve got to go through the minor leagues to get to the big leagues.”
In 2017, Hernandez ranks 20th nationally in earnings at over $2.5 million. His mounts have won 31 of 254 starts, a modest 12 percent.
That does not read like the past performance chart of a Derby winner but do not tell that to Wilkes. Hernandez had his choice of several Derby contenders, and he chose McCraken.
They’ve been some team, especially at Churchill Downs, where the colt won his first three races by a combined 7½ lengths last fall.
“You’d have to believe he likes it here,” Hernandez said.
There’s a strong tradition of Louisiana-bred jockeys doing great things in this race — Borel (three Derby wins), Kent Desormeaux (also three), Eddie Dellahoussaye (a pair) and Craig Perret (one).
“Growing up in Louisiana, it’s just part of our lives,” Hernandez said.
Kentucky Oaks
Left without a horse in the Kentucky Derby, Bob Baffert sought to make the most of his lone entry in the Kentucky Oaks. Abel Tasman rewarded the Hall of Fame trainer with a surprising victory.
Abel Tasman rallied from last and charged late to win the Oaks by 1¼ lengths Friday and give Baffert the victory with his lone entrant in the weekend marquee races at Churchill Downs.