Jockey Hernandez, agent Martin a successful team

OPELOUSAS, La. – To say that jockey Colby Hernandez has dominated the first month of the Evangeline Downs meeting might be understating things a bit. The talented, young rider has won with 43 of his 110 mounts for a remarkable success rate of almost 40 percent.

By contrast, Diego Saenz, who has won multiple riding titles at Evangeline, is second in the standings with a respectable 22 trips to the winner’s circle from two more total mounts.

While ability obviously plays an important role in winning that many races, so too does the procurement of “live” mounts. That is where Anthony Martin comes in.

Martin, 26, has been Hernandez’s agent for the better part of two years now, and the results speak for themselves. Together, they have been a major force at Evangeline Downs and Delta Downs, winning the Evangeline title last year and the Delta crown when that meeting concluded in March.

From an early age, it was evident that Martin was destined to become successful at the track, regardless of the direction his career might take. He is the son of longtime agent Tony Martin, who has developed many top riders over the years, including a young Louisiana native named Joe Talamo. Anthony Martin’s mother is Wendy Martin, a Daily Racing Form and Equibase chart caller who now is retired. With that pedigree, an uncanny memory, and a love and respect for the sport nurtured even before he was a teenager, young Martin’s star rose quickly.

“I was 17 when I graduated high school, and you had to be 18 to work in the racing office,” said Martin. “So, I went to work for Steve Asmussen that summer and then later in the year at the Evangeline Training Center.”

By the time the Evangeline season rolled around the following year, Martin was of age and began work on the other side of the counter in the racing office, where he now spends most of his mornings.

“I started as an entry clerk and stakes coordinator for Jason [Boulet, then the Evangeline racing secretary],” said Martin. “I did that for a couple of seasons, and when Jason got the Fair Grounds job, I followed him there to be his assistant.”

Martin’s first gig as a jockey agent was in 2009.

“I got the chance to represent Robby Albarado,” he said. “We had a great Fair Grounds meet and then went on to Kentucky. Those were some good times. I really learned a lot.”

Martin, who grew up in nearby Carencro, La., also got an opportunity to book mounts for Shaun Bridgmohan on the Fair Grounds-Kentucky-Saratoga circuit but soon found that the national stage was not for him.

“I got homesick, to tell you the truth,” he said. “I’m an only child and really missed my folks. We were together all the time – at home, at the track every night. I really missed that.”

Recently married with a 9-month-old son, Martin said he now is where he wants to be.

“This is it,” he said. “I told my wife recently if I had to work 9 to 5 somewhere, she wouldn’t like me very much. I’m doing what I want. I’m with my family. Things are good.”