Chilean jockey Hector Berrios off to a blazing start at Del Mar

DEL MAR — The casual racing fan might not recognize the name Hector Berrios in the Del Mar program, but if the 35-year-old native of Chile keeps riding the way he has during the first three weeks of the track’s summer meet, he could become as recognizable as some of the local circuit’s top jockeys.

Heading into Friday’s eight-race card, Berrios has won two stakes races, both for trainer Marcelo Polanco, and has found the winner’s circle six times with only 20 mounts (30%). He’s already found his way into the Richard Mandella barn and is riding a horse for Philip D’Amato on Friday.

Through the first 12 days of this 31-day meet, Berrios has exceeded even his own expectations.

“The two stakes wins were a big plus, a lot of help, and things just began developing and unfolding,” Berrios said through his agent and interpreter Michael Burns. “I’m really grateful for the situation I am in. I’m getting a lot of demands, a lot of calls now.

“I didn’t come here with a specific goal. My only thought was I wanted to do well with (trainer) Amador Sanchez’s horses that he brought here.”

Berrios credits his mind and hands for his 46 career Grade I victories. Forty-five of those wins came in South America and he won his first Grade I in the U.S. last weekend when he guided Blue Stripe to an upset victory in the Grade I Clement L. Hirsch Stakes.

This isn’t the first time Berrios has enjoyed success in Southern California. He won with his first two mounts at Del Mar in 2011 when he came to the U.S. from Chile, rode a few winners at Santa Anita that year and had even more success at Hollywood Park before deciding to head back to Chile for seven years.

“I always had a lot of respect for U.S. racing, but it was my wife’s idea to come for vacation (in 2011), take a trip, and when I arrived I got bitten by the bug. I got curious about U.S. racing a little more.

“I’d always heard a lot about Jose Santos (another Chilean native and Hall of Famer), always had that in the back of my mind. Jose Santos became more known and popular in Chile when he won the Kentucky Derby with Funny Cide (2003). I became even more acquainted with Jose Santos.”

When Berrios returned to the U.S. in 2018, he rode at Gulfstream Park until this summer, when he decided to give the Southland circuit another try. Names like Juan Hernandez, Umberto Rispoli, Joe Bravo, Abel Cedillo, Ramon Vazquez and Florent Geroux didn’t intimidate him even a little.

“I knew from the beginning it’s really tough, the competition is really tough here in Southern California, very good jockeys,” Berrios said. “Very tough riders. I wanted to give myself a second opportunity to ride at this level and I’m very grateful that I contacted Michael and for the support I’ve received from Amador Sanchez.”

Sanchez, based at Gulfstream Park, brought a string of six horses to Del Mar this summer. He has about 20 horses at Gulfstream and also a string at Mountaineer Park in West Virginia. Of Berrios’ five wins, two have come for Sanchez.

Berrios said the differences riding in Southern California compared to Florida and Chile are striking.

“In Florida, they get a little more aggressive, get a little more upset,” he said. “At Del Mar I’ve noticed the jockeys have a lot of respect for everybody. In Chile, there’s a little more craziness. Wild.”

Chilean tracks often offer 20-race cards with 16-horse fields.

Berrios said he’s appreciative of how well he’s been received in the Del Mar jocks’ room after arriving only one day before the meet began.

“Everybody’s been very nice,” he said. “Cedillo is very nice, Joe Bravo, Rispoli. At Gulfstream, they are a little more serious, not so friendly. Guys here are very nice.”

And Berrios’ early success has led to more mounts. He rode only two horses on Thursday, winning the finale with Don’tthinkjustdoit, but has five mounts on Friday and six on Saturday, including two for trainer Peter Miller and one for the John Sadler barn. On Sunday, he’s riding for Jeff Mullins in the opener.

Success breeds further success.

“I feel very proud to have the privilege to work for such horsemen, very successful horsemen, and it really helps your ego, your self-esteem. It gives you confidence,” he said. “Every day several doors are opening. We got calls from Vladimir Cerin, calls from Phil D’Amato. We are riding for just about everyone right now.”

Winning at a 30% clip will do that for a jockey.

Follow Art Wilson on Twitter @Sham73