Atitlan and Hector Berrios take the San Luis Rey (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif. — Three races after earning his 500th victory in North America, jockey Hector Berrios piloted Atitlan to a 9-1 upset in the Grade III, $100,000 San Luis Rey Stakes going 1 ½ miles on turf Saturday at Santa Anita.
Trained by John Shirreffs, Atitlan settled near the rear of the field as longshot Balladeer (36-1) ushered the field through opening fractions of 23.90, 47.79, 1:11.98 and 1:36.79 for a mile. On the final turn, Atitlan unleashed a sweeping outside move to draw into contention and kicked clear in the stretch to win by two lengths.
Divin Propos (8-1) was second under Ricky Gonzalez with Gold Phoenix, the 8-5 favorite, another half-length back in third. Divin Propos and Gold Phoenix are both trained by Phil D’Amato. For Grade I winner Gold Phoenix, this was his first start since finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Nov. 2 at Del Mar. The now 7-year-old gelding got a ground-saving trip under Kyle Frey, was blocked behind horses at the top of the stretch and then rallied late to finish 2 ½ lengths adrift of the winner.
Atitlan won in a time of 2:24.73. This was his second graded-stakes victory. Last year, the now 4-year-old colt by The Factor won the GII Twilight Derby with Berrios up going 1 1/8 miles at Del Mar.
For Berrios, a 38-year-old native of Chile, it was his third win on the card. He also won the third race on Yogi Boy for ($6.80) for trainer Mike Puype and earned his milestone victory in the fourth race aboard Mr. Disrespectful ($4.40) for trainer Martin Valenzuela Jr.
“John Shirreffs put a shorter blinker on him and it’s much better,” Berrios said of Atitlan. “He went comfortably. When I put him on the outside on the turn, he responded and finished strong.”
This was Shirriffs’ second victory in the San Luis Rey, which was first run in 1952. He also won it in 2005 with Stanley Park. The San Luis Rey has traditionally crowned the top turf horse of the Santa Anita season. Kotashan won the San Luis Rey during his 1993 Horse of the Year campaign and John Henry won consecutive running in 1980 and 1981 to help earn champion turf horse honors both seasons.
“This is one of those dream races, a marquee race,” Shirreffs said. “You are coming down the hillside and you come onto the main track and you go around again. It is an exciting race.”
Atitlan improved to 9: 3-0-3 with $300,000 in earnings for owner John M. O’Connor. In his only previous start this year, he finished fifth after being forwardly placed in the GIII San Marcos going 1 ¼ miles on turf Feb. 8 at Santa Anita.
Atitlan paid $20.20, $7.40 and $4.80. Divin Propos returned $7.20 and $4.80. Gold Phoenix paid $3.40.
Live racing resumes Sunday at Santa Anita with a nine-race card starting at 1 p.m. PT. Admission gates open at 11 a.m.
