Super Corredora © Benoit Photo
Jockey Hector I. Berrios has won some big races since arriving at Del Mar from Florida in 2022. A couple of Grade 1 Bing Crosby’s on The Chosen Vron. The Grade 1 Clement Hirsch on Blue Stripe. He even went across the country to Parx outside Philadelphia to win the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby on Baeza.
But none were as big as the race he took down two weeks ago at Del Mar. The Chilean-born rider won his first Breeders’ Cup race when he rode Super Corredora to victory in the Juvenile Fillies.
“For me it was a new experience,” Berrios says. ”The moment was a dream for me.”
It’s been a long time coming. The 38-year-old Berrios won over 2,500 races in Chile before moving to the U.S. for two years in 2011, splitting time between Florida and California. He went back to Chile in 2014 only to return to the U.S. for good in 2018. He rode in 11 Breeders’ Cup races before finally scoring in wire-to-wire fashion on Future Stars Friday.
“My first Breeders’ Cup is very special for my career,” Berrios notes. “It was amazing.”
He’s grateful to trainer John Sadler and the owners group of Super Corredora led by Terry Finley and West Point Thoroughbreds.
“I like it when I feel the confidence people have in me,” Berrios remarks. “I pass that on to the filly. I thank John (Sadler) for trusting me.”
Berrios first hooked up with Super Corredora this summer at Del Mar. Trainer John Sadler put him on the young Gun Runner filly for her debut in July. They finished fifth in a maiden special weight but she obviously got a lot out of that race because her and Berrios finished second in her next outing one month later at the seaside oval. Sadler gave her two months off before her next race and she responded by breaking her maiden with Berrios aboard at Santa Anita.
Sadler was on the fence about running her in the Breeders’ Cup but some sharp workouts convinced him to run.
“I worked the filly before the Breeders’ Cup,” Berrios points out. “She worked very, very nice. She worked a half mile in :47 in hand. She looked nice.”
Sadler stuck with her regular rider and he was rewarded. Berrios gave his filly a perfect ride.
“Sadler told me to try and go to lead,” Berrios states. “I saw Juan Hernandez grab his filly (Explora) so I went to the lead. Maybe they decided ‘she’s a longshot, you lead.’ I went a little fast but she was very comfortable and at the three-eighths I asked my filly and she responded.”
He was still in front turning for home but the favorite, Explora was hot on her trail and it took everything Super Corredora had to hold off the Bob Baffert-trainee. But she did and Berrios soon found himself in the spotlight.
He shed tears of joy as TV commentator Donna Brothers interviewed him on the walk back to the winner’s circle. His wife and two children joined him there. It wasn’t long before his phone was blowing up.
“My family in Chile and Florida,” Berrios says of the calls he received afterward. “A lot of people. I got a lot of texts.”
He better get used to it. Winning a Breeders’ Cup race tends to boost business for accomplished riders. And notoriety. Hector I. Berrios is no longer a well-kept secret in California.