Multiple Group Stakes Winner Scores in Laurel Park Opener

BALTIMORE – MCA Racing Stable’s 4-year-old filly Queen Cadence swept to the lead around the far turn and opened up through the stretch to win Laurel Park’s Sunday opener and give jockey Jorge F. Hernandez his first win in the United States.

Queen Cadence ($6), the 2-1 favorite trained by Claudio Gonzalez, went 5 ½ furlongs in 1:07.30 over a fast main track to win the claiming event for fillies and mares 4 and up by 3 ½ lengths.

A multiple group-stakes winning jockey in his native Chile, the 33-year-old Hernandez’s first domestic win came in his 27th mount. He also finished fourth on Shoulda Had It for owner-trainer Mario Serey Jr. in Race 2.

“I am really happy. I was waiting for it. After having five seconds in a month I wanted to get that first win out of the way,” Hernandez said through fellow jockey Angel Cruz. “It’s special.”

Hernandez settled Queen Cadence in fourth, giving her clear run three wide, down the backstretch as Sapphire Beauty led the way through a quarter-mile in 23.25 seconds. Queen Cadence cruised up to the leader exiting the far turn and rolled past once straightened for home to earn her second career win.

Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, both also named Jorge, Hernandez began riding at the age of 16 prior to entering the Blanco Encalada Riders School. Standing just 4-foot-7, Hernandez quickly rose to become one of Chile’s top riders and earned the nickname, ‘El Bomba.’ He said he won 960 races in his home country including Group 1, 2 and 3 stakes.

“My career was awesome over there, but I wanted to try something different in the United States,” Hernandez said.

Brought to Laurel by Gonzalez, Maryland’s overall leading trainer six straight years who also hails from Chile, Hernandez had five seconds and one third from his first 26 mounts. He made his North American debut Jan. 6, finishing fifth on Gonzalez-trained God is Love. Seventeen of Hernandez’s mounts have come for Gonzalez.

“Claudio brought me from Chile,” Hernandez said. “I want to thank Claudio and all the other trainers that have given me the opportunity since I’ve been here. I’m so happy for the opportunity Claudio gave me. He opened the door for me to come here.”

Hernandez has also ridden three times at Penn National. He is named in two of eight races on the next live program at Laurel Friday, Feb. 17.