Héctor Berríos Captures San Luis Rey, Reaches 500 Wins in the U.S.

Chilean rider reached a major milestone on Saturday at Santa Anita Park, celebrating his 500th U.S. win in style with a three-win day, capped by a San Luis Rey Stakes (G3) triumph aboard Atitlan

Héctor Berríos Receives Congratulations from John Shirreffs / BENOIT PHOTO

ARCADIA, California (Special for Turf Diario).- Just three races after reaching his 500th career win in the United States, Héctor Berríos delivered a surprise victory aboard Atitlan in the San Luis Rey Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park. The 9-1 shot surged late to claim the $100,000turf marathon over 2400 meters on Saturday.

Trained by John Shirreffs, Atitlan settled near the back while longshot Balladeer (Distorted Humor, 36-1) set a steady pace, clicking off fractions of :23.90, :47.79, 1:11.98, and 1:36.79 for the mile. As the field rounded the final turn, Atitlan launched a powerful wide rally, took command in the stretch, and drew clear to score by two lengths.

Divin Propos (George Vancouver), ridden by Ricky González, finished second, while Gold Phoenix (Belardo), the odds-on favorite and a G1 winner, settled for third, beaten half a length. Trained by Phil D’Amato, Gold Phoenix was making his first start since finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) at Del Mar last November.

Atitlan stopped the clock in 2:24.73 and secured his second graded stakes victory, having previously captured the Twilight Derby (G2) at Del Mar in 2023, also with Berríos in the irons.

For Berríos, 38, the San Luis Rey was the third win of his banner day. Earlier, he piloted Yogi Boy (Twirling Candy) to victory in race 3 for trainer Mike Puype, and then guided Mr. Disrespectful (Smiling Tiger) to a score in race 4, which marked his milestone 500th U.S. victory.

"John Shirreffs added a shorter blinker, and that really helped him," Berríos explained about Atitlan. "He was traveling very comfortably. When I tipped him outside on the turn, he responded strongly and finished with power."

The win was Shirreffs’ second in the San Luis Rey, having first won the race in 2005 with Stanley Park (Swain). Established in 1952, the San Luis Rey has long been a key race for Santa Anita’s top turf marathoners, boasting past winners such as Kotashaan (Darshaan), who won in 1993 en route to Horse of the Year honors, and John Henry (Ole Bob Bowers), who took back-to-back editions in 1980 and 1981, securing his place as a two-time Horse of the Year.

“This is one of those dream races, one of the iconic tests,” Shirreffs said. “You come down the hillside, enter the main track, and go another full lap. It’s a thrilling race.”