Golden Gate Fields: Hernandez scores 1,000th U.S. victory

Jockey Juan Hernandez won three consecutive races at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday to reach the 1,000-victory mark in the United States.

Hernandez began his win streak with Boldly True ($16.60) in the fifth race in which jockey Kyle Frey sustained injuries when his front-running horse ducked out and unseated him.

He then won with Ryder’s Starlight ($14) in the sixth race and reached the milestone in the seventh race when She’s Flush ($17.20) beat odds-on favorite Bottle Blonde to the wire by a neck. The $1 all-Hernandez pick three returned $167.50.

Hernandez has won 999 races in the United States and one while riding in Puerto Rico before coming to Golden Gate Fields. The Puerto Rican victory counts in his U.S. total.

The 23-year-old Mexican native began his career at Hipodromo de las Americas in Mexico City. His victories there do not count in his career totals. He is the son of jockey Jose Hernandez. His brother, Jonathan, is currently riding at Golden Gate Fields.