Rafael Hernandez was merely visiting Woodbine when he rode Stronach Stables’ Shaman Ghost, trained by Brian Lynch, to victory in the 2015 Queen’s Plate. That year, Hernandez, who was 31 years old at the time, rode 17 races at the Toronto track, including the Plate, and won seven of those. At the time he admits he didn’t realize how big the Queen’s Plate was to Canadian racing.
Lynch had learned about Hernandez from successful American trainer Wesley Ward, who spotted the rider in action at little-known Fairmount Park in Illinois. Hernandez was winning at a remarkable 39 per cent clip at that track. Ward set the rider up with an agent at Churchill Downs and watched him hold his own against the best jockeys in the world.
Lynch hired him to ride Shaman Ghost in the Plate and credited the rider’s patience in the 1 1/4 mile Canadian classic as a major key to the colt’s victory.
When Hernandez was badly injured early in 2016 in a spill at Gulfstream Park in which he suffered a broken collarbone, several broken ribs, and had to have a kidney removed, he was away for four months. It was at that time he discussed with his wife Cynthia about moving to Canada to ride full time at Woodbine. He contacted agent Tony Esposito and work began on obtaining papers for the jockey to ride in Canada.
Now, six years later, Hernandez is a Sovereign Award winner for Canada’s Outstanding Jockey and a perennial leader in the standings. “Tony works hard for me and he has always done his best,” he said.
And what comes with being a top jock is the chance to ride the best horses and for Hernandez, he had two beauties to choose from for this year’s 163rd Plate, to be run Sunday, August 21.
He guided Borders Racing Stable’s robust colt Rondure to a big win in the Grade 3 Marine Stakes on July 2 and then the leggy filly Moira to a 10 3/4 length romp to the Woodbine Oaks on July 24.
It was decision time.
“The decision was between me and my agent, Tony,” said Hernandez. “I wasn’t sure before the Oaks, but when Moira won the way she did, so easily and with all the trouble she had before the race, I was sure. It’s never easy, though.”
Moira flew to her Oaks win despite needing both hind shoes removed after she got feisty in the walking ring and twisted both nearly off her feet.
Plus, said Hernandez, the fact that the filly, trained by Kevin Attard, was making the jump from her win in the seven furlong Fury Stakes, her first race in 8 months, to the challenging 1 1/8 mile distance of the Oaks, it was all that more impressive.
“Kevin is such a great trainer,” said the Puerto Rican-born rider. “It was amazing how he prepared her to get her ready for the Fury and then for the Oaks. I just follow his instructions.”
Coincidentally, Moira is by the same sire as Shaman Ghost, Stronach’s top stallion Ghostzapper, who also sired 2017 Plate winner Holy Helena. Hernandez emphasized that Moira is so full of energy and loves to race.
“She’s not crazy at all, she’s excited. “She doesn’t like to be in one place very long. Even in the morning, she likes to dance around.”
Hernandez was aboard Moira, who is owned by the mostly Canadian syndicate of X-Men Racing and American owners Madaket Stable and SF Bloodstock, for her final Plate prep on August 14, a sharp five furlong breeze in 59.80.
Moira is one of 11 Canadian-bred 3-year-olds expected to enter the Plate on Wednesday and one of the ‘big three’, including Rondure and The Minkster, who are the most likely winners.
For Hernandez, now that he has settled in Ontario, raising his three children with Cynthia, a Plate win this year would mean so much more to him.
“When I won it with Shaman Ghost, I didn’t know how important it was; I was really just riding it like another race. If I win it this Sunday, I will consider it my first Plate. It’s something I really want to win.”
REPLAYS: Woodbine Oaks
Plate Trial:
Marine Stakes (G3)
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