Intrepido, trained by Jeff Mullins and ridden by Chilean jockey Héctor I. Berrios, was one of the most unexpected names on the 2026 Kentucky Derby entry list. After a lackluster fourth-place finish in the Santa Anita Derby, the colt seemed to be out of contention. But, as is often the case in the Derby, with its last-minute surprises, he quickly became a favorite again at 50-1 odds.

The colt earned his place through earlier results, including a Grade 1 win in the American Pharoah Stakes, but recent races have raised real doubts about his current form. Intrepido has not shown clear progress at age 3, and his latest performances suggest he will need a major turnaround to stay relevant in the race. His best recent speed figures remain modest compared with the top contenders.

Still, there are a few reasons his camp is not entirely out of hope. Intrepido has shown that he can break well from the gate, and his sharp early speed could help him avoid traffic in the opening stages. That matters at Churchill Downs, where position and rhythm can shape the entire race. If Berrios gets him out cleanly, he may be able to save ground and stay closer than expected.

The concern is whether that early speed can last. His recent bullet workout in four furlongs at 45 seconds showed energy, but trainer Jeff Mullins was reportedly not impressed with the move. For a conservative barn that values control and consistency, that reaction matters. It suggests the colt may be under more pressure than his connections would like heading into Derby weekend.

From a profile standpoint, Intrepido is a classic long shot: qualified, talented on his best day, but searching for a return to peak form at exactly the wrong time. For Héctor Berrios, the ride offers a high-profile Kentucky Derby chance, but also a demanding test against stronger, faster rivals. If Intrepido is going to matter, he will need his best break, a smart trip, and a sudden jump forward that has not yet appeared this season.

This is how Chilean jockey Héctor I. Berrios and his horse Intrepido fared in the 2026 Kentucky Derby

Golden Tempo won the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, making Cherie DeVaux the first woman to train the winner of the inaugural leg of the Triple Crown. Renegade finished second, ridden by José’s brother, Irad Ortiz Jr., while the biggest surprise was Ocelli, who finished third. Chilean jockey Héctor I. Berrios and his horse Intrepido did not make it to the podium.

Jockey/Horse Leaderboard for the 2026 Kentucky Derby

POST HORSE JOCKEY MORNING LINE ODDS
1 Renegade Irad Ortiz Jr. 4-1
2 Albus Manny Franco 30-1
3 Intrepido Hector Isaac Berrios 50-1
4 Litmus Test Martin Garcia 50-1
5 Right to Party Chris Elliott SCR*
6 Commandment Luis Saez 6-1
7 Danon Bourbon Atsuya Nishimura 20-1
8 So Happy Mike Smith 15-1
9 The Puma Javier Castellano 10-1
10 Wonder Dean (JPN) Ryusei Sakai 30-1
11 Incredibolt Jaime Torres 20-1
12 Chief Wallabee Junior Alvarado 8-1
13 Silent Tactic Cristian Torres SCR*
14 Potente Juan Hernandez 20-1
15 Emerging Market Flavien Prat 15-1
16 Pavlovian Edwin Maldonado 30-1
17 Six Speed Brian Hernandez Jr. 50-1
18 Further Ado John Velazquez 6-1
19 Golden Tempo Jose Ortiz 30-1
20 Fulleffort Irad Ortiz Jr. SCR*
21 Great White Alex Achard 50-1
22 Ocelli Joe Ramos 50-1
23 Robusta Cristian Torres 50-1

* SCR (Scratch) indicates that a horse that was initially entered for a race will not compete.

There is no published, verifiable final result yet for how Héctor I. Berrios and Intrepido finished in the 2026 Kentucky Derby.

2026 Kentucky Derby latest news about chilean jockey Héctor I. Berrios and his horse Intrepido

  • Chilean jockey Héctor I. Berrios is indeed riding Intrepido in the 2026 Kentucky Derby.
  • Intrepido is a 3‑year‑old colt trained by Jeff Mullins and owned by Dutch Girl Holdings LLC and Irving Ventures LLC.
  • Intrepido drew post position 3 for the Derby and was generally listed as a longshot around 50‑1 on the morning line in pre-race analysis.
SOBRE EL AUTOR
Ronie Bautista

Periodista y SEO del Grupo El Comercio con experiencia en investigación y coberturas de alto impacto para EE. UU., México y España. Mi expertise fusiona el análisis de actualidad con una especialización profunda en Deportes (F1, MLB, Boxeo, WWE, etc.), Tecnología y Gaming. Transformo datos en narrativa relevante para la audiencia hispana global.

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