Jockeys

Born: March 7, 1992, Perote, Veracruz, Mexico
Current Residence Glendora, CA
Height: 5’7 
Weight: 114
Broke Maiden: Camarero, Puerto Rico, 11-27-09, aboard Broken Express

With more than 2,400 career wins, Juan Hernandez is Santa Anita’s top jockey and an emerging superstar. At the 2023 Hollywood meet, he topped the Santa Anita rider’s standings for a third time with 42 wins from 165 mounts (25 percent). He also won the 2022-23 Classic Meet after earning  last year’s winter-spring meet title.

Previously a dominant force at Golden Gate Fields, Hernandez posted staggering numbers while riding in the East Bay. He won Golden Gate’s 2019 Fall Meet title by 27 wins with a 31 percent win rate. He followed that up by taking the 2020 Winter/Spring Meet by finishing a staggering 78 wins clear of his competition, again posting a 31 percent strike rate.

With top agent Craig O’Bryan signed on, Hernandez made the commitment to ride full time in Southern California in the summer of 2020 and he instantaneously established himself as one of the top three riders on this circuit. A tremendous judge of pace, a terrific finisher with the ability to break on top when necessary, Hernandez possesses the intangibles that combined with physical talent, make him a rising star.

A great tactician, Hernandez is fiercely competitive yet maintains a steady demeanor that’s consistent with his reputation as a devoted family man and tireless worker. The son of a Quarter Horse jockey, Hernandez moved with his family to Mexico City when he was 10 to facilitate his father’s career objectives.

Earning his jockey license in 2008, Hernandez became Mexico City’s leading apprentice in 2009 and transitioned to the Bay Area following that, where he would soon rack up 1,700 winners riding primarily in Northern California. In concert with O’Bryan, Hernandez had his first big afternoon at Santa Anita on Memorial Day 2022 when winning three stakes: The Grade I Gamely aboard the Simon Callaghan-trained Maxim Rate, the Grade II Charles Whittingham aboard the David Hofmans-trained Award Winner and the Grade II Triple Bend aboard Bob Baffert’s Magic On Tap.

Hernandez also got the 2022-23 Classic Meet off to a rousing start. On opening day Dec. 26, Hernandez won the Grade I La Brea with the Baffert-trained Fun to Dream, the Grade I American Oaks with Rhea Moon for trainer Phil D’Amato and the Grade II San Gabriel with Dicey Mo Chara for trainer Leonard Powell.

Hernandez not only was the leading jockey at the 2022-23 Classic Meet, he lapped the competition. The 31-year-old finished with 63 wins at the stand, 32 more than next closest pursuer Flavien Prat (31).

Among all jockeys in North America in 2022, Hernandez ranked ninth in purse earnings ($15,021,265) and 11th in wins (211).

Hernandez and his wife Melissa have two young boys, Juan Jose and Emilio.