San Luis Rey Stakes – GIII
$100.000 For Four Year Olds And Upward
1 1/2 Miles – Turf
Santa Anita Park – March 21, 2026

Longshots and upsets turned out to be the story of the G3 San Luis Rey Stakes at Santa Anita Park on Saturday. I didn’t see these results coming but it makes me feel a tiny bit better that, apparently, no one else did either. In the end it was 10-1 Dangerous Fugitive over 23-1 One Last Punch Line over 8-1 Kegger over 10-1 Great Vault. The winner was victorious in the mile and a half G3 San Juan Capistrano last year at 31-1 so the next time Dangerous Fugitive goes long on the grass at The Great Raceplace, I have a feeling he will get more respect at the windows. 

Winner: Dangerous Fugitive (Night Rider Stables/E. Jaramillo) Lil Pink Panther/She Excaped (Manhunt) Was placed in a relaxed position mid pack throughout and only began to move with three of the twelve furlongs left. Loomed as a distant threat at the top of the stretch when he had swung wide and was set down to go after the leader. He had a lot of work still to do at that point to run down One Last Punch Line. Distant Fugitive dug in and doggedly wore down the leader in the last furlong. His San Juan Capistrano win last year was wire-to-wire, so he has shown impressive versatility in his two twelve-furlong graded grass wins at Santa Anita. 

Second: One Last Punch Line (Saratoga Stud/H.I. Berrios) Punch Line/Adventuria (Hardline) Almost stole it. Almost. Went right to the front and opened up daylight on his rivals and maintained that advantage going into the stretch the final time. He continued willingly to the wire and was just caught by a fellow seven-year-old veteran. Valiant effort

Third: Kegger (Ajm Stables/V. Del-Cid) Bellamango/Sunset Mind Party (Forever Sunset) The youngster among the top finishers. The six-year-old took up his preferred position at the back of the back. Made a strong run and gained his second straight third place finish in a graded stakes going a mile and a half on the grass. He is always there but seems to just need a bit more ground to come out best against the best in his division. The problem is the races don’t get longer than this. 

Fourth: Great Vault (Winning Link Stables/U. Rispoli) Good Authority/Poll Vault (Cherokee Sunset) He ran a pretty even race sitting a few lengths off the lone pacesetter. Tried to rally but others showed a stronger kick. Kept on for a determined fourth and the last check.

Preview Pick: Fanatical Empire ran sixth. Stalked and was poised to threaten at the top of the stretch but couldn’t muster a rally. 

The win by Dangerous Fugitive was the first in this race for Night Rider Stables as well as jockey E. Jaramillo. It was the second graded stakes win for the seven-year-old gelding and brought his career earnings to $863.390. The winning time of 2:22.92 was the second fastest in stakes history only slower than the 2:22.34 track record run by Perpetual Motion in this race back in 2008.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES