Intrepido soared under the guidance of Chilean jockey Héctor Berríos in the American Pharoah Stakes

The Maximus Mischief colt stunned at Santa Anita, securing his spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile; a brilliant ride by Chilean jockey Héctor Berríos left favorite Desert Gate with no chance

Héctor Berríos and Intrepido, following a victory that tastes of Breeders’ Cup aspirations / BENOIT PHOTO

ARCADIA, California (Special for Turf Diario).- South American racing once again shone on U.S. soil. On a sunny afternoon at Santa Anita, Chilean jockey Héctor Berríos masterfully guided the colt Intrepido to an impressive victory in the American Pharoah Stakes (G1), run over 1,700 meters on dirt, securing a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), set for October 31 at Del Mar.

Racing in the silks of Dutch Girl Holdings LLC and Irving Ventures LLC, under the care of trainer Jeff Mullins, Intrepido displayed patience and precision. As the heavy favorite Desert Gate (Omaha Beach)—one of four runners for Bob Baffert—pushed to set the pace, Berríos opted to bide his time, saving ground along the rail. The race featured demanding fractions—22.83 and 46.76 seconds for the first 800 meters—and the Chilean jockey read every moment with composure.

“It was a tough race,” Berríos said. “I thought about going forward, but I saw Juan (Hernández) break very fast with the favorite, so I decided to settle. I had to check twice, but when I found room on the outside in the stretch, the horse responded. He didn’t start with great force, but then he changed gears and flew. He’s an incredible horse.”

The Maximus Mischief colt prevailed by three-quarters of a length, covering the distance in 1:43.67, marking his second consecutive win following an easy triumph at Del Mar. Mullins credited the victory to the colt’s maturity:

“We wanted to avoid a speed duel up front. I asked Héctor if he thought he could wait, and he said ‘no problem.’ And he executed perfectly. He’s a really good horse.”

Intrepido’s win also marked another milestone for Berríos, who continues to solidify his reputation among the top Latin jockeys on the U.S. circuit.

Desert Gate, brave despite his inexperience at the distance, settled for second, while Plutarch (Into Mischief) completed the trifecta for Baffert’s powerful stable.