Breaking sharply from the gate, Kings River Knight took immediate command of the 1 1/16-mile contest, carving out splits of :23.56, :47.33, 1:11.61 and 1:35.31 before stopping the clock at 1:41.28. Never seriously challenged, the horse made every call a winning one under a confident hand ride.
Assistant trainer Juan Leyva, standing in for conditioner John Sadler, credited Hernandez’s decisive early tactics. “I told Juan, ‘He’s a good breaker, so get out on the lead,’” said Leyva. “This horse is hard to pass. When he’s up in front, it’s really hard to get by him. He’s a class horse; he showed it today.”
The victory marked the first stakes win of the Del Mar meet for Sadler and his third overall in the California Dreamin’, raising his lifetime tally to 87 stakes victories at Del Mar, second only to Hall of Fame-level peers.
Owned in partnership by Integrity Thoroughbred Racing, the Ellwood Johnston Trust, and Kenneth Tevelde, Kings River Knight has consistently rewarded their faith with gritty, front-running performances. His connection with Juan Hernandez has grown into one of the most prolific partnerships in California turf racing today.
With Hernandez guiding two stakes wins already this meet, and Del Mar’s premier fixtures still ahead, the seasoned reinsman remains a critical figure in the local jockey colony. For more insights on California’s elite racing circuit, and other international news coverage visit RaceBuzz followed by the international section.
Whether galloping under the sunlit Del Mar skies or taking tight turns at Santa Anita, Juan Hernandez continues to shape the narrative of West Coast racing with poise, purpose, and a champion’s drive.
