Brian "B.J." Hernandez Jr.
Record at Keeneland
Career Firsts
Starters in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes
|
Year |
Horse |
Finish |
|---|---|---|
|
2022 |
Rattle N Roll |
6th |
|
2020 |
Art Collector |
1st |
|
2019 |
Signalman |
3rd |
|
2017 |
McCraken |
3rd |
|
2015 |
Gorgeous Bird |
6th |
|
2014 |
Big Bazinga |
4th
|
At Keeneland
First Keeneland win came during the 2004 Fall Meet when he won 20 races and was the season’s second-leading rider.
First Keeneland stakes win was the 2006 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine on Swingit.
Won 2020 Toyota Blue Grass (G2) aboard Art Collector during five-day Summer Meet.
He and his younger brother, Colby Hernandez, recorded a unique feat on April 10, 2021: Brian won the Stonestreet Lexington (G3) aboard King Fury in the race after his younger brother, Colby, scored his first Keeneland stakes viictory aboard Change of Control in the Giant's Causeway (L).
Other Keeneland stakes wins: 2012 Giant's Causeway on Flash Mash; 2016 Ben Ali (G3) on Eagle; 2017 Juddmonte Spinster (G1) on Romantic Vision, Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) on Finley'sluckycharm and Bewitch (G3) on Quiet Business; 2018 Darley Alcibiades (G1) on Restless Rider, Madison (G1) on Finley'sluckycharm and Hilliard Lyons Doubledogdare (G3) on Valadorna; 2020 Indian Summer (L) Presented by Keeneland Select on Bodenheimer; and 2021 Stonestreet Lexington (G3) on King Fury, Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) on Rattle N Roll, Castle & Key Bourbon (G2) on Tiz the Bomb and Bryan Station on Camp Hope.
His four Keeneland stakes wins in 2021 were on horses trained by Kenny McPeek.
Career
Breeders’ Cup win: 2012 Classic (G1) aboard Fort Larned (on the jockey’s 27th birthday).
Won the 2004 Eclipse Award as outstanding apprentice jockey when he won 243 races and his mounts earned $4,401,867. He won stakes at Fair Grounds, Churchill Downs, Remington Park and Delta Downs during the year.
North American career earnings near $113 million with 2,431 wins through Jan. 23, 2023.
Scored his 2,000th win on Dec. 19, 2019, at Fair Grounds on Afleet Roger
Won his 1,000th race on Aug. 18, 2012, at Ellis Park on Wildandcrazyguy.
Rode future Hall of Famer Rachel Alexandra in her first five races as a 2-year-old in 2008.
Sister Courtney Hernandez won her first race as a jockey on March 14, 2014, at Delta Downs.
Click here for his Equibase career record.
Background
B.J.’s father, Brian Hernandez Sr., was a jockey, and his younger brother Colby Hernandez currently rides. His younger sister Courtney Hernandez also has ridden. Brian, or “B.J.”, began galloping horses for trainer Dale Angelle at age 12 and began his riding career at Delta Downs in November 2003, exercising horses in the mornings before high school classes and riding at night. After graduating from high school in May 2004, he headed to Churchill Downs, where he rode for a few weeks before returning to Louisiana and capturing his first riding title at Evangeline Downs.
On Feb. 1, 2019, Colby Hernandez recorded his 2,000th win at Fair Grounds. He won three Keeneland stakes in 2021: Buffalo Trace Franklin County (G3) and Giant's Causeway (L) on Change of Control and Rubicon Valley View (G3) on Navratilova.