Hector I. Berrios's move in 2022 from Florida to Southern California has proven to be satisfying and rewarding as he has become one of the top jockeys on the circuit. At Del Mar on Saturday, Berrios won the Grade 1 Bing Crosby aboard The Chosen Vron, and on Sunday he won the G2 Eddie Read with Gold Phoenix.
The panel of racing experts voted Berrios Jockey of the Week for July 24 through July 30. The award recognizes jockeys for riding accomplishments and who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 1,050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.
The team of trainer Eric Kruljac, Berrios, and the Cal-bred The Chosen Vron brought a seven-race win streak into the G1 Bing Crosby on Saturday. The Chosen Vron's previous seven wins with Berrios aboard had come exclusively in state-bred stakes.
Off as the 4-1 third choice in a deep and talented field of 12 including two previous Crosby winners, Berrios settled his mount three-wide in sixth. On the far turn, Berrios avoided trouble by angling out The Chosen Vron to avoid clipping heels. Part of a six-horse charge at the top of the lane, The Chosen Vron became one of three with less than a furlong to go. The Chosen Vron inched away determinedly for a game head victory in 1:09.24 for the six furlong sprint. The victory capped a three-win day for Berrios.
“Yes, we had trouble (approaching the far turn),” said Berrios. “I had to pull back and go outside. I got bumped. But this horse is special; he just runs and I love to ride him.”
On Sunday, Del Mar's leading trainer Phil D'Amato gave a leg up to Berrios in the G2 Eddie Read on Gold Phoenix. Off as co-second choice at 9-2, Berrios and Gold Phoenix raced in fifth in the field of nine into the second turn. Berrios tipped Gold Phoenix out for the stretch run and reached the wire first by three-quarters of a length in 1:48.62 for the 1 1/8-mile turf test. The win capped another three-win day for Berrios and his first in the Eddie Read.
“I took my time; I knew I had a lot of horse,” said Berrios. “As it turned out, I got the perfect trip. I waited and waited and then I asked. And when I did – boom! He was a runner.”
The 36- year-old Berrios is a native of Chile where he won eight Triple Crown races and four Derbys, compiling over 2,500 wins in his home country. He first came to the United States in 2011, but after riding a few winners on the West Coast he returned to Chile for the next seven years. When he returned to the U.S. in 2018, Berrios rode at Gulfstream Park until 2022 when the opportunity to again try southern California presented itself. Berrios is currently tied with Juan Hernandez at the top of Del Mar jockey standings with 11 wins.
Berrios outpolled fellow riders Axel Concepcion who rode 13 winners to lead all jockeys for the week, Manny Franco who won the G2 Bowling Green at Saratoga, Feargal Lynch who won two stakes at Monmouth including the G2 Monmouth Oaks, and Irad Ortiz, Jr. who won two graded stakes at Saratoga including the G1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt.
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