Tejano Twist, Butterbean Rally to Win Stakes at Oaklawn

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Tejano Twist, Butterbean Rally to Win Stakes at Oaklawn
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Photo: Coady Photography/Renee Torbit
Tejano Twist captures the Ring The Bell Stakes at Oaklawn Park

Tejano Twist  is not fast early, but the sprinter is quick when it counts—in dashing to the finish.

The late-running 4-year-old notched his fifth stakes victory and ninth overall win Dec. 9 in closing from last to first in the $150,000 Ring The Bell Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Swung to the outside for the stretch run after initial splits of :22.01 and :45.65 set by Top Gunner  and Ryvit , Tejano Twist drew clear for a five-length victory over stablemate Necker Island , zipping six furlongs in 1:10.02. He returned $4.40 to win as the favorite.


"He's such a cool horse. He does have some gears," jockey Chris Landeros said. "He's one that—he uncorks it. You stay out of his way because there's no turning back."

Necker Island closed to grab second by three-quarters of a length over third-place Sir Wellington . Another head back was fourth-place Osbourne .

The Ring The Bell marked the sixth win for his current connections. Trainer Chris Hartman claimed Tejano Twist for owners JD Thoroughbreds and Joey Keith Davis for $80,000 from an allowance optional claiming race at Churchill Downs in June 2022.

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Earnings and Pedigree

  • Tejano Twist banked $87,750 Saturday, improving his earnings this year to $629,550. He is 9-6-4 in 28 starts over his career with a $1,179,854 bankroll.
  • Bred in Kentucky by Tom Durant, who initially raced him, Tejano Twist is a gelded son of Practical Joke  , the second-leading third-crop sire in North America behind Gun Runner  . The late Practical Move, winner of this year's Santa Anita Derby (G1), is Practical Joke's top earner of 2024. Practical Joke stands next year for a $65,000 fee at Ashford Stud. 

Video: Ring The Bell S. (BT)



Butterbean Packs a Punch in Mistletoe

Replicating Tejano Twist's closing performance, Butterbean  also rallied from the clouds to win the $150,000 Mistletoe Stakes three races later—though her margin of victory was much smaller.

Second to last early, she hit high gear on the second turn and surged down the stretch under Julien Leparoux to win the one-mile stakes race by a half-length. She was timed in 1:38.54 on a fast track following fractions set by the leaders of :23.61, :47.78, and 1:13.01.

Butterbean - The Mistletoe Stakes - R09 - Oaklawn Park - 120923
Photo: Coady Photography/Renee Torbit
Butterbean winning the Mistletoe Stakes at Oaklawn Park

"I thought we were gonna have a good trip. A lot of speed on paper, so I thought they were gonna go pretty fast," Leparoux said. "She comes from behind, so I tried to get in a good spot and not too far from the lead at the quarter pole, and she finished up game."

Misty Veil  finished second, and Ice Orchid  was third. Adaline Julia  was promoted to fourth when the original fourth-place finisher Effortlesslyelgant  was disqualified and placed eighth for interference entering the second turn.

Butterbean's Accomplishments

  • Butterbean, trained by Kenny McPeek for owners Magdalena Racing and William Klimashousky, scored for the fifth time in 16 starts. The Mistletoe was her fourth stakes victory (third black-type) after three earlier stakes wins at Prairie Meadows in the Panthers Stakes and Iowa Oaks (G3) in 2022 and this year's Jack Bishop Stakes.
  • The Woodgate Farm-bred 4-year-old filly is by third-crop sire Klimt  , who now stands in Turkey. Klimt initially stood at stud at Darby Dan Farm in Kentucky.

Video: Mistletoe S. (BT)