Leading SA Rider Hernandez Earns Jockey of the Week

Juan Hernandez's three-stakes sweep included the grade 2 Twilight Derby, the grade 3 Autumn Miss and the Tokyo City Cup to cap closing weekend of the Autumn Meet on a high note, he won his ninth Santa Anita leading rider title. The panel of racing experts voted Hernandez Jockey of the Week for October 20-October 26. The weekly honor recognizes jockeys for significant riding accomplishments and who are members of the Jockeys' Guild. Founded in 1940, the Guild represents more than 1050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States. On Saturday, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert gave a leg up to his "go to" rider Hernandez aboard three-year-old Privman in the Tokyo City Cup for three-year-olds and up. Off as the favorite in the short four-horse field, Privman trailed Pony Express with Umberto Rispoli until the final furlong when Privman took control posting a three-quarter length win in 1:36.21 for one mile. "He has a lot of talent, but he's figuring out how to run," Hernandez said to Santa Anita publicity. I was asking him on the turn. As soon as we hit the stretch, he switched leads and took off." Hernandez made it a stakes double for the day aboard ship-in Test Score in the Gr. II Twilight Derby for east coast trainer Graham Motion. Off as the favorite in the field of five, Test Score raced in fourth on the outside. Hernandez gave Test Score his cue at the quarter pole passing the field in the final furlong to post a 1-1/2 length win in 1:47.66 for the mile and one-eighth turf test. "All the credit goes to my horse because he broke well and put himself in a nice spot," Hernandez said. "I was just travelling with him. All I did, turning for home, was just swing out. He is such a nice horse." On Sunday, Hernandez and trainer Graham Motion joined forces again with Warming in the Gr. III Autumn Miss for three-year-old fillies. Off at odds of 5-1 in the field of nine, Warming settled near the back of the field. As the field approached the top of the stretch, Hernandez moved Warming closer to the front and took control in mid-stretch to post a 1-3/4 length win in 1:34.44 for one mile on the turf. "It was a great weekend," Hernandez said. "I just want to thank all the owners and trainers for their support. Especially to the horses, they are the ones that keep me here and why I have a job. It is all thanks to the horses." Hernandez will be at Del Mar this Friday and Saturday with mounts in seven Breeders' Cup races including the Juvenile Fillies and Juvenile Turf on Friday and on Saturday, the Filly & Mare Sprint, the Sprint, Distaff, Turf Mile and the Dirt Mile. Other contenders for Jockey of the Week included Tyler Gaffalione with two stakes wins at Keeneland including the Bryan Station (G3), Irad Ortiz, Jr. with two stakes wins including the Hagyard Fayette (G3) and the leading rider title at the Keeneland meet, Jaime Torres who won the Street Sense (G3) and John Velazquez who won the Valley View (G2) tying Hall of Famer Pat Day's record for stakes wins (7) at Keeneland's Fall meet.