Intrepido, trained by Jeff Mullins and ridden by Chilean jockey Héctor I. Berrios, is one of the most unexpected names in the 2026 Kentucky Derby field. After a flat fourth-place finish in the Santa Anita Derby, the colt seemed to be fading out of contention. But with Derby fever always bringing late surprises, he was quickly back in the conversation as a 50-1 long shot.
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.
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.
