Hernandez closes in on fourth Evangeline riding title

Jockey Colby Hernandez has established himself as the dominant rider at Evangeline Downs in Opelousas, La., where he is poised to lock up his fourth title when the meet closes Saturday night. Hernandez had a 12-win lead over Diego Saenz heading into Wednesday’s card.

Hernandez, 27, is a native of Lafayette, La., whose career path was something of a given as the son of a jockey, Brian Hernandez Sr. In addition, brother Brian “B.J.” Hernandez Jr. is an Eclipse Award-winning rider based in Kentucky.

“We grew up around the horses,” Colby Hernandez said. “My dad’s been a jockey since I was born, so we were at the races every weekend. It’s pretty much all I knew.”

Colby Hernandez has learned his craft well and in less than 10 years in the saddle has amassed 1,634 wins and mount earnings of more than $30 million. He’s regularly teamed with such high-percentage trainers as Karl Broberg, who led the standings into Wednesday, and Al Stall Jr., who has a division in Opelousas for this meet.

Hernandez won the first stakes of the Evangeline season with the Stall trainee Blip n’ Th Bye in the Cajun Miss. Another of his stakes wins came for Broberg aboard Couche Couche in the $75,000 Equine Sales Derby.

Hernandez made the move to Fair Grounds in New Orleans last fall after being based at Delta Downs in Vinton, La., where he is a title winner, and he plans to go back this season. He made his mark on the Fair Grounds meet, finishing third in the standings. Hernandez’s highlights included winning the Thanksgiving Handicap with Control Stake, guiding Forevamo to a close second in the Grade 2 Risen Star at 40-1, and finishing second in a December maiden race with eventual Belmont Stakes winner Creator.

“We rode plenty of nice horses at the Fair Grounds meet,” he said.

Hernandez will again prep for Fair Grounds by heading to Kentucky after Evangeline. Last September at Ellis Park, he guided eventual Ohio Derby winner Mo Tom to a maiden special weight win.

“My plans are to leave Sunday to go to Kentucky for a month,” Hernandez said. “I’ll go up there, get my business ready for Fair Grounds, visit my brother.”

Hernandez plans to ride at Kentucky Downs and Churchill, then return to Louisiana, where six months ago he moved into a new house.

“I plan on riding when Delta starts back,” he said of the meet that opens in October. “I’ll ride there for a little while until the Fair Grounds opens up.”

Hernandez said he is grateful for the meet he has had at Evangeline, including the support of owners and trainers and the efforts of his agent, Anthony Martin.

“We won races, stayed healthy,” Hernandez said. “It’s nice being home and doing well.”