Big Day for Héctor Berríos at Del Mar: Treble and Another Graded Score with Thought Process

The Chilean Jockey Enjoyed a Brilliant Start to the Meet and Continues to Cement His Status in California

Berríos and Thought Process Score an Easy Victory / BENOIT PHOTO

DEL MAR, California (Special for Turf Diario).- Chilean jockey Héctor Isaac Berríos delivered one of those season-defining performances on Saturday. At the always competitive Del Mar summer meet, Berríos secured a hat trick of victories, capping his day with a decisive win aboard Thought Process in the San Clemente Handicap (G2), one of the weekend’s feature races and marking his second career success in the event.

The star of the show was Thought Process, a daughter of the promising sire Collected, who confirmed her excellent form with a commanding victory over a mile on turf against eight fellow three-year-old fillies. Owned by Brereton C. Jones, Little Red Feather Racing, and Madaket Stables, she left no room for doubt, crossing the wire 1 3/4 lengths clear after fractions of :23.82, :48.34, 1:12.75, and 1:24.42, stopping the clock in 1:36.24.

The key was Berríos’s decisive and intelligent ride. “I let her relax early, but the pace was too slow, so I moved her outside and took the lead down the backstretch. I didn’t want to get stuck behind horses, so I made my move around the turn. She responded very easily. She’s a big, strong filly and felt very comfortable out there,” the jockey explained post-race.

For Thought Process, this was her third stakes victory and fifth win overall from just seven starts – all on turf – pushing her earnings to $344,200. Trainer Phil D’Amato, a constant force in California stakes races, celebrated his third San Clemente win, commenting: “You never get tired of winning these kinds of races, especially at Del Mar. Héctor moved early, but it was a smart decision. He saw the slow pace and acted accordingly. She’s a special filly and I feel fortunate to train her.”

Berríos’s day wasn’t limited to the San Clemente. Earlier he guided Sammy Davis (Sir Prancealot) to victory and closed out the card with a win aboard Indispensable (Constitution).

With this graded win, Berríos now boasts 21 stakes victories at Del Mar, placing him firmly among the most successful Latino jockeys in U.S. racing.

The Del Mar summer season is just getting underway, but its leading names are already making their presence felt. With his steady hands and sharp judgement, Héctor Berríos seems determined to feature among the standouts each and every week.