The last time we saw jockey Juan Hernandez at Del Mar, he suffered a heartbreaking loss in the equestrian rankings to arch-nemesis Flavien Prat, who won five races on the closing day of the Fall 2022 Encounter to take the title from Hernandez. It was one of the few times Hernandez tasted defeat in the past two years.
Undeterred, Hernandez hit the field and won the Santa Anita winter and spring equestrian titles and is poised for another good performance this summer at Del Mar. He will have to wait a day to start. He was suspended for a whip violation on closing day at Los Alamitos.
“A good start is important, because owners and coaches see you winning races and then they want to ride you. If I don’t have a good start, that’s okay. I’ll work really hard and try every day,” Hernandez said.
It will not be easy for the 31-year-old driver from Veracruz, Mexico to repeat last summer’s achievement. He won his first race and finished with three wins on opening day. He won eight races in his first week and has never fallen behind in the equestrian rankings, building an unsurpassed lead in mid-August and claiming his second equestrian title at Del Mar. He beat Umberto Rispoli with 21 wins.
Hernandez attributes his success over the past few years to good horses and luck.
“Great opportunities from owners and trainers,” he said. “They’ve been so supportive of me. I just do the same thing every day. Train the horse in the morning and give the horse every chance to win the race in the afternoon.”
Hernandez also appreciates his agent, Craig O’Bryan.
“He’s the one who picks the winners,” he said.
And a lot of them. Hernandez won 30 classified bets in 2022 and grossed over $15 million in earnings, his best year to date. His earnings are the ninth-highest among jockeys in 2022. Hernandez, however, isn’t afraid to learn new ways to beat his opponents.
“I pay attention to every driver,” Hernandez said. “When they do something that I like, I try to copy them and do the same. They just make you a better racer.”
With all the success Hernandez has enjoyed since leaving Northern California in June 2020, one obvious question is when will he compete nationally and in marquee races throughout the year. For instance, this weekend’s G1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park drew Mike Smith, Javier Castellano and Joel Rosario. But for now, Juan says, he is satisfied with his position.
“I think that’s the goal,” Hernandez said. “It’s a possibility but not now, maybe later. Right now I’m focused here and I want to keep doing a good job here.”
The rest of the jockey colony has been warned.
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