Hernandez edges Stein for 2020 Woodbine jockey title

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Rafael Hernandez won the hotly contested Woodbine rider title by a 129-126 margin over Justin Stein, who had led the standings heading into last week.

The 2019 Eclipse Award-winning apprentice Kazushi Kimura went on a tear on the weekend and finished third with 83 wins. After notching two stakes wins on Saturday, he won three of Sunday’s six races.

Rounding out the top five were Emma-Jayne Wilson with 79 wins and Luis Contreras with 76 victories.

Stein led in earnings with $5.41 million, which was slighter higher than the $5.40 million accumulated by Hernandez, who led all jockeys in stakes wins with 17.

Mark Casse was the runaway leading trainer with 93 wins and $5.37 million in earnings. Norm McKnight edged Robert Tiller by a margin of 44-43 for second in the standings. Kevin Attard (37) and Marty Drexler (36) rounded out the top five.