Hembree makes return on investment in Joe Hernandez

ARCADIA, Calif. -- The $62,500 claim of Hembree at Churchill Downs in November is already a bargain.

Friday at Santa Anita, Hembree won his first start for owner Tom Kagele and trainer Peter Miller in the Grade 2 Joe Hernandez Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs on turf. The win in the $201,000 Hernandez was worth $120,000.

Hembree closed from last in a field of seven to win the Hernandez by three-quarters of a length over 7-1 True Valour, who finished 3 1/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher Blitzkrieg (4-1).

Ridden by Joel Rosario, Hembree finished 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:13.80.

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Rosario kept the 7-year-old Hembree on the inside around the turn and was within a half-length of the front with a furlong remaining.

“I was trying to save ground and make a nice move on he turn,” Rosario said. “I had to wait there and give him a chance to start running.”

Blitzkrieg, fourth in the 2020 Hernandez, was followed by Texas Wedge, Chaos Theory, Wildman Jack and P R Radio Star. Wildman Jack, the 2-1 favorite, was second for the first half-mile, but faded through the stretch, finishing 5 1/4 lengths behind Hembree.

P R Radio Star (18-1) set an early pace of 21.56 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.13 for a half-mile but was out of contention by midstretch.

Miller credited Kagele for suggesting the claim when Hembree won an allowance at a mile on the main track for trainer Mike Maker on Nov. 19. Miller is Hembree’s fifth trainer.

A horse by Proud Citizen, Hembree has won 8 of 40 starts and earned $927,371 in a career that began with a win in a maiden special weight race at Saratoga in 2016.

The Hernandez was Hembree’s third stakes win. He won the Grade 2 Nearctic Stakes at six furlongs on turf at Woodbine in October 2018 and the El Prado Stakes at 7 1/2 furlongs on turf at Gulfstream Park in February 2019.