Jockey Hernandez's great year continues as Brilliant Berti takes Gun Runner

FRANKLIN, Ky. – The jockey Brian Hernandez is 37. Turns out good things do come to good people who work hard. Not that Hernandez hadn’t already put together a sterling career. But this year has gone off the charts.

The day after he won the Kentucky Oaks with Thorpedo Anna, the best 3-year-old dirt filly in the world, he won the Kentucky Derby with Mystik Dan. He won a $1.5 million stakes here Aug. 31, and on Sunday, Hernandez patiently piloted Brilliant Berti to a one-length victory in the $1,498,350 Gun Runner Stakes.

That pushed, already, his seasonal purse earnings over $15 million, sixth-best among North American jockeys. Hernandez’s mounts in early September this year have earned about $2.5 million more than during his best entire year as a jockey.

Not that the man was doing cartwheels late Sunday afternoon. Hot on the heels of a huge payday, Hernandez, as ever, stayed cool.

And so it was in the Gun Runner, a one-mile race for 3-year-olds, in which Brilliant Berti broke slowly and was back on his heels getting into the race. Hernandez kept a steady hand. Soon, as Brilliant Berti left the uphill section of the course and began descending into the far turn, Hernandez could tell the best horse in the race would have every chance to win his first start over this quirky racecourse.

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“He didn’t break that good, but he was traveling really well when they started to come down the hill, and when they do that, it usually means they like this place,” Hernandez said.

Brilliant Berti liked it fine. Mid-pack at the three-furlong marker, he stoked up at the top of the stretch and already had hit the front with a furlong remaining. Herchee, who came up the fence after a stalking trip, tried to make a race of it, but Brilliant Berti would have none of it. Hernandez said his mount gave him more as Herchee edged closer.

“He galloped out way in front,” Hernandez said.

Brilliant Berti paid $6.12 as a surprisingly tepid favorite. Bred and owned by Richard Klein’s Klein Racing, longtime Louisville owners and breeders, and trained by Cherie DeVaux, Brilliant Berti was fifth making his career debut this past February at Fair Grounds. DeVaux has said that the first start was a learning experience for a horse with talent, and this spring and summer at Klein’s home track, Churchill Downs, Brilliant Berti reeled off three turf route wins in a row facing maidens, allowance horses, and then in the American Derby, which he won by more than two lengths. His streak ended last month at Colonial Downs, where Brilliant Berti ran into Trikari, who is turning into a top turf miler of any age.

Winning time Sunday over a firm, fast course was a good 1:33.42. Herchee, who was making his stakes debut after two wins to begin his career, ran well in defeat, finishing three-quarters of a length ahead of third-place Neat, on paper the only serious rival for Brilliant Berti.

Brilliant Berti is by Noble Mission and out of the Langfuhr mare Believe in Bertie. He’s the fifth generation of racehorses with “Bertie,” a Klein signature, in their name. No wonder Richard Klein rushed out onto the Kentucky Downs course to meet his Gun Runner winner. The jockey on his back, having a career year, smiled and shook his hand.

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