Hernandez living up to his own expectations at Santa Anita meet

ARCADIA, Calif. – Juan Hernandez finished the Del Mar summer meeting last month with 29 wins, good enough for fourth in the standings. Understandably, Hernandez had high expectations for the current Santa Anita autumn meeting and has thrived since the start of the five-week season on Sept. 25.

Through Sunday, Hernandez was second in the standings with 15 wins, one win behind leader Flavien Prat. Hernandez has been boosted by four three-win days at the meeting, the most recent occurring on Friday and Saturday.

“It’s a strong meet here,” Hernandez said on Sunday. “I thought I’d be winning some races, but not like that.

“I’m a little surprised. I’ve been working really hard. I’m riding good horses and I keep doing my best.”

Hernandez benefited from Prat’s weekend absence from Santa Anita. Prat rode at Keeneland on Friday and did not have mounts from Saturday through Monday while undergoing mandatory post-travel quarantine. Prat is scheduled to ride at Santa Anita on Friday.

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Hernandez was the leading rider at Golden Gate Fields earlier this year and relocated to Southern California in June. In his first weeks on the circuit, Hernandez tied with Edwin Maldonado for the riding title at the two-week Los Alamitos summer meeting in late June and early July.

A native of Mexico, Hernandez, 28, is booked to ride Big Runnuer in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland on Nov. 7. On Sept. 25, Hernandez rode Bug Runnuer to a win in the Grade 2 Eddie D Stakes.

“I worked him the other day, and he worked really good,” Hernandez said.

On Sept. 26, Hernandez won his first Grade 1 in the Rodeo Drive Stakes aboard Mucho Unusual, a candidate for the BC Filly and Mare Turf on Nov. 7.

Big Runnuer was Hernandez’s only confirmed Breeders’ Cup mount as of Sunday, although other opportunities could develop.

Last November, Hernandez rode Anneau d’Or to a second in the BC Juvenile at Santa Anita, his first mount in a Breeders’ Cup race.

Next weekend, Hernandez is booked to ride Scarto in Sunday’s Grade 2 Twilight Derby at 1 1/8 miles on turf.