Churchill Downs Update: Hernandez Returns to Winner's Circle Seven Weeks After Injury; Claiming Crown by the Numbers

Nov 13, 2025

Brian Hernandez Jr. returned to the winner’s circle Wednesday at Churchill Downs for the first time since a riding accident seven weeks ago when he guided Sir Greylind to victory in the eighth race as he continues his steady comeback from injury.

Hernandez was injured in a Sept. 21 incident at Churchill Downs that left him with seven broken ribs, a partially collapsed lung and a lacerated liver. He underwent surgery the following day and began a rehab program through Churchill Downs’ partnership with Norton Healthcare.

“Here at Churchill Downs they have a great partnership with Norton Healthcare and they started us in physical therapy about a week after the surgeries,” Hernandez said. “I did a lot of rehab through that and work at our farm. It feels good to be back. I started recently getting back on horses in the mornings. I’ve been doing this for 20 years now and it’s just about getting back into the routine of things.”

While Hernandez was sidelined, it was announced that both Mystik Dan and Thorpedo Anna – the Kentucky Derby 150 and Kentucky Oaks 150 winners he rode last year – had been retired from racing.

“They meant the world to us,” Hernandez said. “To take us on the ride they did the last couple of years was very fulfilling. You never want to see horses like that retire but you know that day will come, so you prepare yourself for when it happens.”

Hernandez initially hoped to return for the Breeders’ Cup but shifted his timeline as his recovery progressed. He is named on three mounts Thursday, three Friday, three Saturday and five Sunday.

In a unique side note, Hernandez was the only jockey to win a race Wednesday at Churchill Downs whose last name didn’t start with a vowel. The other Wednesday winners were Junior Alvarado, Francisco Arrieta, Jose Ortiz and Irad Ortiz Jr. (five winners).

CLAIMING CROWN BY THE NUMBERS – Churchill Downs will host the 27th running of the Claiming Crown on Saturday and will bring together connections from across North America for eight full-field, supercharged starter allowance races and competitive wagering opportunities.

The Claiming Crown by the numbers:

·         $851,006 is the most earnings for any entrant: Bad Beat Brian ($150,000 Canterbury Tom Metzen Memorial).

·         $31,423 is the least earnings for any entrant in the body of a race: What If ($100,000 Glass Slipper). (Note: Rancho, an also-eligible in $175,000 Emerald has lifetime earnings of $19,800).

·         121 horses entered across the eight Claiming Crown races.

·         110 trainers represented throughout the program.

·         85 starts for Sharp Warning, the most experienced horse in this year’s event, entered in the $100,000 Ready’s Rocket Express.

·         54 jockeys named to ride on Saturday’s card.

·         30 tracks and training centers across North America where entrants are based.

·         27th year in Claiming Crown history.

·         22 Claiming Crown wins for trainer Mike Maker, the all-time leader.

·         18 career wins for Sharp Warning, the most among this year’s entrants.

·         14 states represented: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

·         12.5 average field size in the body of each race.

·         10 wins in 2025 for Sharp Warning, the most of any horse in North America.

·         8-years-old is the oldest competitors: Sharp Warning ($100,000 Ready’s Rocket Express), Time for Trouble ($100,000 Iron Horse Kent Sterling Memorial) and Bad Beat Brian ($150,000 Canterbury Tom Metzen Memorial).

·         6 consecutive wins for Sadie the Goat, tops among Saturday’s runners, entered in the $100,000 Glass Slipper.

·         3 defending race champions: Concrete Glory ($100,000 Ready’s Rocket Express), Jubilant Joanie ($100,000 Glass Slipper) and Echo Lane ($175,000 Emerald).

·         3 times Churchill Downs has hosted the Claiming Crown. Other host racetracks: Canterbury Park, Philadelphia Park (now Parx), Ellis Park, Fair Grounds and Gulfstream Park).

·         2 runner-ups last year seeking redemption: Freedom Road ($100,000 Iron Horse Kent Sterling Memorial) and Keen Cat ($125,000 Rapid Transit).

·         2 prior Claiming Crown victories for Time for Trouble (2022–23 Iron Horse Kent Sterling Memorial). A win Saturday would make him the first three-time Claiming Crown winner.

Saturday’s 11-race card begins at 1 p.m. The program also includes the $300,000 Chilukki presented by Resolute Racing (Grade III) in Race 3. The wagering menu features three Pick 5s, including two all-Claiming Crown sequences that begin in Race 4 and Race 7.

DOWN THE STRETCH – Thursday’s 10-race program got underway at 1 p.m. and featured a $7,792 carryover in the 20-cent Derby City 6 Jackpot that spanned Races 5-10. There also was a $9,316 carryover in the $1 Super Hi 5 in Race 1. … Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. tallied five wins on Wednesday’s card to vault him into a tie atop the rider standings with his brother Jose Ortiz. They hold a 15-11 lead over Tyler Gaffalione. … Jockey Corey Lanerie said he’ll head to Gulfstream Park this winter for the first time since 2022. He spent the last two winters riding at Fair Grounds. … Nominations closed Wednesday for the nine Thanksgiving Week stakes events, led by the $600,000 Clark presented by Norton Healthcare (GII). Defending champion Rattle N Roll is among the likely entrants to this year’s race, according to trainer Kenny McPeek. … Santa is a horseplayer at heart, and he’s headed to Churchill Downs on Saturday and Sunday for special appearances with Mrs. Claus. They’ll be joined Saturday by Churchill Charlie from 12:30-2:30 p.m. in the Turf Club; 2:50-3:50 p.m. in the Finish Line Suites; and 4-5:30 p.m. outside the Champions Bar on the second-floor clubhouse. On Sunday they’ll appear in the Jockey Club Suites from 12:30-2:30 p.m. and outside the Champions Bar from 3-5 p.m. … For the latest information about the Churchill Downs Fall Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com.