Héctor Berríos, Super Corredora, and His First Breeders’ Cup Triumph

The Chilean jockey treated himself to a special moment Friday at Del Mar, capturing the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies aboard the daughter of Gun Runner

By Diego H. Mitagstein (Special Correspondent for Turf Diario at Del Mar, California)

DEL MAR, California — On an afternoon charged with emotion and pure speed, South American racing lived a historic moment. Chilean jockey Héctor Berríos, one of the leading riders on the California circuit, achieved the dream every professional cherishes—his first Breeders’ Cup victory—guiding Super Corredora to a memorable triumph in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Wearing the silks of West Point Thoroughbreds, Robert C. Gardiner, and Spartan Equine Racing, Berríos delivered a masterful ride from the start, sending the filly straight to the lead and courageously fending off the favorites’ late bids. After 1,700 meters of pulsating action over Del Mar’s fast dirt, the daughter of Gun Runner crossed the wire 3 3/4 lengths ahead of favorite Explora (Blame), with Percy’s Bar (Upstart) completing the trifecta three lengths back.

The clock stopped at 1:43.71, sealing a new chapter in Chilean racing history. It was Berríos’s first Breeders’ Cup win, a milestone that cements his place among South America’s elite and confirms his standing as a major force on the California scene.

“John Sadler—the trainer—told me to be confident. And now I’m just so emotional,” said Berríos moments after dismounting, surrounded by hugs, applause, and an irrepressible smile. “I want to thank him and the owners. This is an incredible day for me, for my career. Winning a Breeders’ Cup is something you dream about as a kid.”

For trainer John Sadler, it was his fourth Breeders’ Cup triumph and a reward for patient horsemanship.

“We always had high hopes for her,” Sadler said. “We knew she could handle the distance and both turns. The summer wasn’t easy—she had a tough start the first time—but she kept improving. We were at home here, unsure if we’d run, but she trained beautifully over this track. And here we are.”

Super Corredora, making her graded-stakes debut, is out of Super Simple (Super Saver) and was bred in Kentucky. The victory earned her a $1,040,000 payday, lifting her record to four starts, two wins and one second, with total earnings surpassing $1.09 million.

For Berríos, the day carried special meaning—a long-awaited recognition of talent, the reward for years of sacrifice far from home, and the validation of a career defined by steady ascent. In one of the world’s most competitive racing environments, the Chilean rider has earned universal respect through composure, dedication, and gifted hands.

And if one truth was evident at Del Mar, it’s that every Breeders’ Cup tells a story of heart. This Friday’s was that of a Latin American who crossed a continent with a dream—and found glory.

Héctor Berríos is now part of Breeders’ Cup history.