DEL MAR — The chance to ride in England and possibly guide a British horse into the Breeders’ Cup has created a difficult Pacific Classic eve travel schedule for jockey Juan Hernandez and could cost him a fifth straight summer meeting riding title.
Hernandez missed Thursday’s program and will do likewise Friday at Del Mar because he flew to York, England, Tuesday at the request of trainer Wesley Ward to ride Bacio in Friday’s Grade I Nunthorpe Stakes. A win by Bacio would put the horse in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. In June, Hernandez rode Bacio to victory in the Holyrood Stakes at Royal Ascot.
While Hernandez flew to England on Tuesday to give him some recuperation time before Friday’s race, there is little room for mistake on the trip home to ride Original Sin Saturday in the Pacific Classic as well as compete in six other races.
After the Nunthorpe ends Friday, Hernandez will take a 90-minute helicopter ride to Heathrow Airport in London to catch a 6:30 p.m., 11½-hour flight that is scheduled to land at 10 p.m. in Los Angeles.
Hernandez then intends to drive to Del Mar.
“Hopefully, we can win the race and make the flight,” said Hernandez. “I want to get back and ride because my agent (Craig O’Bryan) told me we have some nice horses Saturday and Sunday. That’s why we’re rushing to get back.”
Hernandez is scheduled to ride Victorious Dream in the Grade I Del Mar Oaks, Detain in the Grade II Del Mar Mile and No Nay Hudson in the Grade II Green Flash Handicap.
But he will not be returning as Del Mar’s leading jockey.
Joel Rosario, who entered Thursday trailing Hernandez by one win in the jockey standings won four races, including the first three of the day, to open a 28-25 lead. And he’ll be riding again Friday with Hernandez away.
Rosario’s Thursday winners were Tap the Gin ($18.40 in the first), Lady Ruth ($2.60 in the second), Believer ($16.60 in the third) and Palo Alto Baby ($6 in the sixth).
A three-time Del Mar champion (2009-2011) before moving east, Rosario was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 2024 during his first year of eligibility.
Notable
Jockey Armando Ayuso, who scored his 11th win of the meeting Thursday (Victoria’s Rocket, $10.60 in the fifth), was also suspended for seven racing days by the stewards for an infraction in Sunday’s sixth race. Ayuso was cited for crossing over without sufficient clearance entering the first turn resulting in the disqualification of his mount from first to unplaced.
• Roxane Liegeois became the first female jockey to win a race this meeting when she scored with Chasing Kat.