Louisiana jockey, KY horse trainer break records with Derby wins. What's next for Mystik Dan?

As a boy, Brian Hernandez Jr. and his brother raced ponies on their grandparents' farm. This past weekend, he rode into in the Winner’s Circle at Churchill Downs not once — but twice.

Hernandez earned both the red rose garland and the "lilies for the fillies."

Hernandez finished first in the 2024 Kentucky Derby with Mystik Dan on Saturday and first in the 2024 Kentucky Oaks — the female version of the Derby — with filly Thorpedo Anna on Friday. Kenny McPeek was the trainer for both horses.

The last time a jockey won both races was in 2009 and for a trainer, 1952.

"We didn’t think we could top it off," Hernandez said about winning the Oaks. "Then to follow it up with winning the Derby the next day — it’s a feeling like no other."

"We’ve had a lot of success together," Hernandez said about McPeek, who he’s worked with for about eight years.

"I’m really proud of the accomplishment. Brian did an amazing job," McPeek said. "It was a real awesome experience."

Will he or won't he?

As far as whether Mystik Dan will run for the Triple Crown in the Preakness and Belmont, Hernandez said, "We’ve got to make sure everything is good with the horse."

McPeek will make the decision. "Someone taught me a long time ago to never make a decision until you absolutely have to," he said. The horse is doing well but they need to watch him back at the track, he said. "Things change." Entry day for the Preakness is Monday, May 13, so that will be last day to decide.

Hernandez, who was born and raised in Lafayette, started riding as an apprentice in Louisiana. He moved to Kentucky the day after he finished high school to be a career jockey. He still has a lot of family in Lafayette.

Growing up in Louisiana  — known for having great jockeys he said — he was inspired by three people in particular: Shane Sellers, Robby Albarado, and Calvin Borel.

Horseback riding must be in the Hernandez blood. Brian’s father was a jockey and the same with his sister and brother. His wife takes the children to compete in pony racing around the country. In a recent competition in Maryland, a daughter and son both took first place in their respective races during the same weekend on the same pony, "Buddy." The oldest daughter participates in dressage and eventing. 

Riding the rail 

When asked about it, Hernandez said the post position was extremely important in winning the Kentucky Derby. When Mystik Dan drew position three, Hernandez watched some Borel replays and wanted to mimic the 2010 Derby ride on Super Saver. He decided, "Let’s roll the dice and give him a Calvin Borel ride." That meant "ride your own horse, save as much ground as possible, and ride as close to the rail as possible."

He said they were sitting on the inside on the second turn waiting for a spot to open up and as soon as it did, "Mystik Dan shot through it."

"Pretty much the whole race we were pretty confident."

Hernandez said, Mystik Dan is "one of the coolest customers you can ever be around" and a "people pleaser" who just wants to show up and do the job. "He’s not flashy, not big, but super athletic," he said.

"Horse racing is like any other profession – you want to get to the pinnacle." He remembers riding a Shetland pony as a child wearing his jockey clothes and announcing "One day I'll win the Kentucky Derby!"

"We’re enjoying the moment, that’s for sure."

Both Hernandez and McPeek live in Kentucky but they each spend part of the year in New Orleans.