The Post’s Steve Serby chatted this past week with the jockey who guided Barbaro to a 61/2-length victory in the Kentucky Derby and now sets his sights on next Saturday’s Preakness and a potential Triple Crown:

Q: Your mother passed away in January. What is this Mother’s Day going to be like for you?

A: Very long, big hole in my heart.

Even if I win the Triple Crown, it cannot bring the joy that she did to my life.

Q: What made her such an inspiration to you that you dedicate every victory to her?

A: She was a very humble person.

Never asked for anything. She loved to give more than receive.

Q: Best piece of advice she gave you?

A: Work hard. Don’t ever give up.

Money helps a lot, but you don’t become someone with money – be yourself before that.

Q: What would it mean to win a Triple Crown?

A: That would be . . . indescribable.

If it happens to me, it’s a dream really come true, you know?

Q: Favorite jockeys you used to watch?

A: Angel Cordero. Eddie Arcaro.

Bill Shoemaker.

Q: What did you take from Cordero?

A: He placed the horse in the right spot. He was a very aggressive, fearless competitor.

Q: What was Shoemaker’s secret?

A: His hands. Patience. Pushed the button at the right time.

Q: Arcaro?

A: Very smart.

Q: Laffit Pincay was another you’ve observed closely.

A: He didn’t use the whip unless he had to.

Q: Your strong points as a jockey?

A: I try to adjust to the horse’s style instead of the horse adjusting to me.

You have to do that . . . then you can read his mind like he reads yours.

Q: Is Barbaro’s mind easy to read?

A: Yeah, he’s very professional. So far, we’re getting along good.

Q: I’ve read that you may have the best hands in the game.

A: Sounds good to me (laughs). I don’t think you can fight a horse. If the horse wants to take over and control, he’s gonna do it. Instead of fighting, try to understand him.

Q: You once said: “Good jockeys don’t need instructions, bad jockeys can’t follow them.”

A: You don’t want to get attached to one instruction; so many different factors can happen when the gates open. You want to find out while you’re riding.

Q: You grew up poor in Lima, Peru.

A: We were so poor that when we slept in one room, and we woke up the next day, everybody’d had the same dream (smiles).

Q: When did you want to become a jockey?

A: When I was 10, 11 years old.

Q: Most embarrassing moment?

A: One day [in Miami], they told me to go to Tampa, and that was when I was broke. John Tamarro gave me a horse to ride in Tampa and I was just learning

to speak English. I missed my plane and didn’t know how to get another ticket. I asked the police, “How do I go to the racetrack?” and he told me “Just jump

on 95, you keep on going, and you find it.” So I jump on 95 and I’m driving, driving, driving, driving two, three hours, and I find Daytona Racetrack. That

was car racing instead of horse racing.

Q: You came to this country with $3,000.

A: That was some of the money I saved riding in Peru for about two years. I made more money, but before I came to America, I bought a house for my

mother.

Q: Before long you were down to $500.

A: And I said, “Well, if my $500 is gone, I’m going back to Peru.”

Q: You’re a fan favorite in Maryland, but 0-for-7 in the Preakness.

A: I hope it won’t be 8 (smiles).

Q: When you beat Smarty Jones with Birdstone in the 2004 Belmont, you apologized.

A: Every sport needs a hero.

We don’t see many people come to the races like they used to, unless it’s a big race.

It was sad because I was rooting for the Triple Crown. But sometimes you have to do what you have to do.

Q: You spoiled War Emblem’s Triple Crown bid in the 2002 Belmont with Sarava, a 70-1 longshot.

A: Smarty Jones was more emotional because he was in the lead until maybe the last 3-16th of a mile. War Emblem stumbled coming out of the gate and

didn’t run his race.

Q: Belmont seems to be your track.

A: I love racing Belmont. It’s a big track, you can place your horse anywhere you want . . . it’s more like a tactic for everybody.

Q: The Belmont Child Care Center’s Anna House is important for you?

A: Kids are kids. There’s not enough time that you can give them.

Q: The New York racing crowd?

A: When they want to be loving people, they are very loving people. But they’re tough and very demanding.

Q: You’ve raced in Japan?

A: They treated jockeys with a lot of respect, very like professional athletes, and it’s something we have to work on and treat the jockeys in America

the same way.

Q: You’ve ridden for Joe Torre?

A: I won a couple of races for him.

Q: Your three children – Edgar, 21; Patricia, 12 and Luis, 11 – won’t be at the Preakness?

A: They don’t come often. They’re not crazy about racing.

Q: But your wife will be there?

A: She goes to the big races.

Q: Favorite athlete outside horseracing?

A: Julio Cesar Chavez. The Rocket, because I was in Boston. Larry Bird.

Q: Hobbies?

A: Photography.

Q: If I were president, I would . . .?

A: As an immigrant, we’d love to have something better for those people that come here to work.

Q: Favorite movie?

A: “Tombstone.”

Q: Favorite actor?

A: Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro.

Q:

Favorite actress?

A: Demi Moore.

Q: Favorite singer?

A: Rod Stewart.

And Frank Sinatra. Sam The Bugler, every time I win a big race he plays “My Way.” After I won the Belmont, I started liking “New York, New York” better

(smile).

Q: Favorite meal?

A: Ceviche.