| Surface: | Turf |
| Class: | Grade III |
| Horse Race: | San Luis Rey Stakes |
| Location: | Santa Anita Park Arcadia, California, United States |
| Inaugurated: | 1952 |
| Race Type: | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Website: | www.santaanita.com |
| Distance: | miles (12 furlongs) |
| Track: | downhill chute, left-handed |
| Qualification: | Four-year-olds & up |
| Weight: | Assigned |
| Purse: | $100,000 |
The San Luis Rey Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Held during the third week of March, the Grade III event is open to horses of either gender, age four and up, willing to race one and one-half miles (12 furlongs) on the turf. The race normally begins on Santa Anita's downhill chute; from this position horses race down the hill and cross the dirt track before running one complete lap of the main turf course. Prior to 1955, the race was restricted to California-foaled three-year-olds and in 1958 and 1959 to three-year-olds and up. It was contested on dirt at 7 furlongs in 1952, 6 furlongs in 1953, one mile in 1954, and at miles in 1962. The race was transferred to the dirt track in 1975 and in 1989 was started on the backstretch instead of its normal position on the hillside. Two divisions were run in 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1970.
In its 66th running in 2013, Bright Thought won with a final time of 2:22.72, a world record time for miles[1] that stood for only one week; Twilight Eclipse lowered the standard at Gulfstream Park one week later.
Speed record: (at current distance of miles)
Most wins:
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Offlee Naughty | 5 | Umberto Rispoli | Michael McCarthy | Jim & Donna Daniell | 2:24.87 |
| 2022 | Acclimate | 6 | Ricardo Gonzalez | Philip D'Amato | The Ellwood Johnston Trust, Timmy Time Racing LLC, Brooke & Ryan Bartlett, and Michel & Tevelde Goritz | 2:25.40 |
| 2021 | United | 6 | Flavien Prat | Richard Mandella | LNJ Foxwoods | 2:25:51 |
| 2020 | Ward'n Jerry | 7 | Flavien Prat | Mike Puype | Larry D & Marianne Williams | 2:28.67 |
| 2019 | Epical | 4 | Tyler Baze | Jim Cassidy | DP Racing LLC | 2:24.06 |
| 2018 | Itsinthepost | 6 | Tyler Baze | Jeff Mullins | Red Baron's Barn LLC | 2:27.73 |
| 2017 | Itsinthepost (FR) | 5 | Tyler Baze | Jeff Mullins | Red Baron's Barn LLC | 2:25.43 |
| 2016 | Generosidade (URU) | 7 | Tiago Josue Pereira | Paulo H. Lobo | Haras Phillipson | 2:28.80 |
| 2015 | Ashleyluvssugar | 4 | Gary Stevens | Peter Eurton | Alesia/Bran Jam Stable/Ciaglia Racing | 2:25.78 |
| 2014 | Fire With Fire | 6 | Tyler Baze | Neil D. Drysdale | David Heerensperger | 2:25.03 |
| 2013 | Bright Thought | 4 | Victor Espinoza | Jorge Gutierrez | Dye and Venneri Racing | 2:22.72 |
| 2012 | Bourbon Bay | 6 | Joel Rosario | Neil D. Drysdale | David & Jill Heerensperger | 2:25.78 |
| 2011 | Juniper Pass | 4 | Rafael Bejarano | Thomas Ray Bell II | Betty & Robert G. Irvin | 2:32.64 |
| 2010 | Bourbon Bay | 4 | Rafael Bejarano | Neil D. Drysdale | David and Jill Heerensberger | 2:24.08 |
| 2009 | Midships | 4 | Victor Espinoza | Robert J. Frankel | Juddmonte Farms | 2:25.63 |
| 2008 | Boule d'Or | 7 | Tyler Baze | Jeff Mullins | Robert D. Bone et al. | 2:25.48 |
| 2007 | Forty Niners Son | 6 | Garrett Gomez | Neil D. Drysdale | El Faruk Stable | 2:27.50 |
| 2006 | King's Drama | 6 | Jon Court | Robert J. Frankel | Gary A. Tanaka | 2:26.50 |
| 2005 | Stanley Park | 5 | Gary Stevens | John Shirreffs | Ann & Jerry Moss | 2:24.45 |
| 2004 | Meteor Storm | 5 | Jose Valdivia Jr. | Wallace Dollase | Jarvis, Margolis, et al. | 2:26.03 |
| 2003 | Champion Lodge | 6 | Alex Solis | Sanford Shulman | R. Charles & Clear Valley Stable | 2:33.48 |
| 2002 | Continental Red | 6 | Pat Valenzuela | Ian Jory | Sharon M. Fitzpatrick | 2:26.81 |
| 2001 | Blueprint | 6 | Gary Stevens | Robert B. Hess Jr. | Fog City Stable | 2:28.57 |
| 2000 | Dark Moondancer | 5 | Chris McCarron | Ron McAnally | Charles J. Cella | 2:26.00 |
| 1999 | Single Empire | 5 | Kent Desormeaux | Neil D. Drysdale | Sangster & Tanaka | 2:27.97 |
| 1998 | Kessem Power | 6 | Frankie Dettori | Mike R. Mitchell | Robert J. Baron | 2:28.40 |
| 1997 | Marlin | 4 | Chris McCarron | D. Wayne Lukas | Michael Tabor | 2:28.14 |
| 1996 | Windsharp | 5 | Eddie Delahoussaye | Wallace Dollase | Richard J. & Martha J. Stephen | 2:27.91 |
| 1995 | Sandpit | 6 | Corey Nakatani | Richard E. Mandella | Sierra Thoroughbreds | 2:27.15 |
| 1994 | Bien Bien | 5 | Chris McCarron | J. Paco Gonzalez | McCaffery & John Toffan | 2:26.65 |
| 1993 | Kotashaan | 5 | Kent Desormeaux | Richard E. Mandella | La Presle Farm | 2:23.91 |
| 1992 | Fly Till Dawn | 6 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Darrell Vienna | Josephine T. Gleis | 2:27.26 |
| 1991 | Pleasant Variety | 7 | Gary Stevens | Jerry M. Fanning | Martin B. & Eileen Alpert | 2:24.40 |
| 1990 | Prized | 4 | Eddie Delahoussaye | Neil D. Drysdale | Clover Racing Stable et al. . | 2:25.20 |
| 1989 | Frankly Perfect | 4 | Eddie Delahoussaye | Charles E. Whittingham | Summa Stable | 2:32.80 |
| 1988 | Rivlia | 6 | Chris McCarron | Narvick International | 2:27.20 | |
| 1987 | Zoffany | 7 | Eddie Delahoussaye | John Gosden | Speelman, et al. | 2:27.20 |
| 1986 | Dahar | 5 | Alex Solis | Charles E. Whittingham | Summa Stable (Lessee) | 2:26.40 |
| 1985 | Prince True | 4 | Chris McCarron | Charles E. Whittingham | Mrs. Howard B. Keck | 2:25.40 |
| 1984 | Interco | 4 | Pat Valenzuela | Ted West | David I. Sofro | 2:26.80 |
| 1983 | Erins Isle | 5 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Charles E. Whittingham | Brian Sweeney | 2:26.20 |
| 1982 | Perrault | 5 | Charles E. Whittingham | Thierry van Zuylen & Serge Fradkoff | 2:24.00 | |
| 1981 | John Henry | 6 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Ron McAnally | Dotsam Stable | 2:25.20 |
| 1980 | John Henry | 5 | Darrel McHargue | Ron McAnally | Dotsam Stable | 2:23.00 |
| 1979 | Noble Dancer | 7 | Jacinto Vásquez | Thomas J. Kelly | Haakon Fretheim | 2:34.60 |
| 1978 | Noble Dancer | 6 | Steve Cauthen | Haakon Fretheim | 2:24.00 | |
| 1977 | Caucasus | 5 | Fernando Toro | Charles E. Whittingham | Cardiff Stud Farm | 2:25.60 |
| 1976 | Avatar | 4 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Tommy Doyle | Arthur A. Seeligson Jr. | 2:24.80 |
| 1975 | Trojan Bronze | 4 | Jorge Tejeira | Charles E. Whittingham | Adrian B. Roks | 2:29.60 |
| 1974 | Astray | 5 | Jacinto Vásquez | David A. Whiteley | William Haggin Perry | 2:24.40 |
| 1973 | Big Spruce | 4 | Donald Pierce | Victor J. Nickerson | Elmendorf Farm | 2:27.60 |
| 1972 | Nor II | 5 | Danny Velasquez | John G. Canty | Castlebrook Farm & Canty | 2:25.80 |
| 1971 | Try Sheep | 5 | Fernando Alvarez | Noble Threewitt | Middle Ranch & LaTourrette | 2:26.00 |
| 1970 | Fiddle Isle | 5 | Bill Shoemaker | Charles E. Whittingham | Howard B. Keck | 2:23.00 |
| 1970 | Quilche | 6 | Jerry Lambert | Steve Ippolito | Kerr Stables | 2:25.40 |
| 1969 | Taneb | 6 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Al A. Fiore | Barney Lobel | 2:29.40 |
| 1968 | Biggs | 8 | Jerry Lambert | Farrell W. Jones | Edward F. Gould | 2:26.00 |
| 1968 | Quicken Tree | 5 | Jerry Lambert | Clyde Turk | Rowan & Whitney | 2:24.60 |
| 1967 | Niarkos | 7 | Hasty House Farm | 2:26.00 | ||
| 1967 | Fleet Host | 4 | Bill Shoemaker | Ray Priddy | Westerly Stud Farms | 2:23.80 |
| 1966 | Polar Sea | 6 | Bill Hartack | John Sullivan | Edward & Harry Seltzer | 2:26.40 |
| 1966 | Cedar Key | 6 | Bill Shoemaker | Don McCoy | Jerry Basta | 2:25.20 |
| 1965 | Cedar Key | 5 | Manuel Ycaza | Don McCoy | Jerry Basta | 2:24.20 |
| 1964 | Inclusive | 4 | 2:25.20 | |||
| 1963 | The Axe II | 5 | Robert L. Wheeler | Greentree Stable | 2:34.60 | |
| 1962 | Vinci | 4 | Rudy Campas | John H. Adams | Ralph Lowe | 2:36.60 |
| 1961 | Don't Alibi | 5 | Bill Shoemaker | Matt Dragna | Dragna & Son/ S. E. Santoro | 2:26.20 |
| 1960 | Lookout Point | 7 | Donald Pierce | J. Benak | Tom D. Atkins | 2:33.40 |
| 1959 | Infantry | 6 | George Taniguchi | Wayne B. Stucki | Sunny Side Stable | 2:31.80 |
| 1958 | Solid Son | 5 | Raymond York | Carl A. Roles | M/M Carl A. Roles | 2:30.60 |
| 1957 | Posadas | 6 | Bill Shoemaker | Willie F. Alvarado | Anita King & Harry Brown | 2:27.60 |
| 1956 | Blue Volt | 7 | Bill Shoemaker | Edward D. Cox | Altandor Stable & E. D. Cox | 2:28.00 |
| 1955 | Alidon | 4 | Roy Lumm | William Molter | Louis B. Mayer | 2:26.40 |
| 1954 | Allied | 3 | Raymond York | William Molter | Andrew J. Crevolin | 1:35.60 |
| 1953 | Tee Dee Gee | 3 | Johnny Longden | Ted D. Grimes | Mrs. Fred Grimes | 1:11.20 |
| 1952 | Dark Count | 3 | Gordon Glisson | Norman R. McLeod | L. R. Allison & M. R. Prestridge | 1:24.20 |