Brian Hernandez Jr. Secures Historic Victory in 150th Kentucky Derby
Louisville, Ky. (AP) — Brian Hernandez Jr. is still trying to wrap his head around his monumental win in the 150th Kentucky Derby. The Louisiana native, who has spent most of his career flying under the radar, rode Mystik Dan to a thrilling victory at Churchill Downs on Saturday.
In a nail-biting finish, Hernandez maneuvered Mystik Dan past the favorite, Fierceness, along the rail at the final turn, ultimately crossing the finish line just ahead of Sierra Leone and Forever Young in a photo finish. The 38-year-old jockey admitted that he wasn’t even sure he had won until he saw the replay.
“I’m like, woo, I think we just won the Kentucky Derby,” Hernandez 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 victory in the Derby came on the heels of a dominant performance in the Kentucky Oaks, where he rode filly Thorpedo Anna to a wire-to-wire victory. This double win made him the first jockey since Hall of Famer Calvin Borel in 2009 to achieve such a feat.
Despite his previous successes, Hernandez’s Kentucky Derby win solidified his status as a top jockey in the industry. Trainer Kenny McPeek praised Hernandez’s “brilliant” ride and expressed confidence in his abilities.
As Hernandez prepares to celebrate his historic win, he reflects on the hard work and dedication that led him to this moment. “You know, it’s horse racing, it’s not jockey racing,” Hernandez said. “Just about any jockey out there, if they have the right horse, they can get them to the winner’s circle.”
The victory may have disrupted Hernandez’s travel plans, but it was a trade-off he was more than willing to make after a weekend that showcased the magic of horse racing.