Kentucky Derby 2025: Hernandez confident Barnes can go the distance

ARCADIA, Calif. – Juan Hernandez, the dominant rider in Southern California the last few years, will be seeking his first win in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on Saturday.

In three previous attempts, Hernandez’s mounts have finished fifth or sixth. The most disappointing of those was Forbidden Kingdom, who was last of six in 2022 as the even-money favorite.

On Saturday, Hernandez rides Barnes in the $500,000 race at 1 1/8 miles, a crucial prep for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 3.

Barnes, trained by Bob Baffert for Amr Zedan, has won 2 of 3 starts, beginning with an attractive victory in a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs at Churchill in November.

Martin Garcia rode Barnes that day, but Hernandez has been aboard the colt for his two starts at Santa Anita this year – an emphatic 5 1/2-length win in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at seven furlongs on Jan. 5, and a second-place finish by 1 3/4 lengths behind Journalism at 2-5 in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on March 1.

The ever-upbeat Hernandez said last weekend he was not discouraged by the loss, preferring to consider the race a learning experience for the colt, who was purchased for $3.2 million as a yearling. He thinks Barnes has a winning chance on Saturday.

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“It was his first time going long,” said Hernandez, who is 33. “I think he’ll get a lot of benefit from that race. He didn’t have the experience going two turns and he still ran great.”

Barnes is part of a Santa Anita Derby field led by the Baffert-trained Citizen Bull, the champion 2-year-old male of 2024, and Journalism, the winner of the San Felipe Stakes in his 2025 debut and the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity in December.

Hernandez has worked Barnes since the San Felipe, including on Monday through a half-mile in 48 seconds. Barnes set the pace in the San Felipe, but worked behind a stablemate on Monday, drawing in front in the stretch.

Barnes has drawn post 4 in a field of five in the Santa Anita Derby. A stalking trip is possible in his second start around two turns.

Hernandez, who through Sunday led all riders at Santa Anita with 46 wins at the winter-spring meeting, is in high demand at Santa Anita on Saturday, with mounts in 11 of the 12 races.

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