Tonito M. Delivers Upset in Oklahoma Derby

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Southern California shipper Tonito M. swept past the leaders to score a mild upset in the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby (gr. III)  Sept. 28 at Remington Park, earning his first victory in six starts for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.



With Rafael Bejarano aboard, 5-1 shot Tonito M. proved much the best in a 14-horse field of sophomores in the 1 1/8-mile test, winning by 2 3/4 lengths in a time of 1:50.41 on a fast track. Bay of Biscay, collared in the final furlong at odds of 50-1, was second, while even-money choice Wildcat Red flattened out in the drive and finished third, 5 1/4 lengths behind Tonito M.



A star in Puerto Rico, where he won a grade I race at 2 as well as three other graded races and was named Horse of the Year and 2-year-old champion, Tonito M. had not been able to break through in American racing before Sunday. He recorded three earlier stakes placings for Hollendorfer and owner Mickey Gonzalez's M Racing, however.

Gonzalez, an entrepreneur from San Juan whose principal business is in insurance, bought the horse in February, but Tonito M. didn't come out of quarantine until mid-March. Gonzalez wanted to enter him immediately in a prominent Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) prep race, but Hollendorfer advised against it, saying it would risk the horse's promising future.



''When I purchased him, my mind was, all the way, to run him in the Kentucky Derby,'' Gonzalez said. ''He told me, `We're not going to destroy this horse. He's not ready. We're not going to push him so hard. Please, please don't do that, because this is a great horse.' I decided to follow his advice.''



A son of Rock Hard Ten out of the winning Dixieland Band mare Esther's Big Band, Tonito M. was coming off a third-place finish in the listed Los Alamitos Mile Sept. 6. The bay colt was bred in Kentucky by Hilbert Thoroughbreds and Menard Thoroughbreds.



Tonito M. settled kindly in sixth on the outside in the big field as Louies Flower found himself alone on the front end early, recording quarter mile splits of :23.20 and :47.49 before being joined by Bay of Biscay and Wildcat Red. Bay of Biscay poked a head in front after six furlongs and held a one-length lead in the stretch before yielding to Tonito M., who closed with a rush at the urging of Bejarano.

''I had a very good trip,'' Bejarano said. ''The horse broke very good. About a half-mile, I felt like I still had a little horse. He came into the stretch and it was on.''



Triple Crown contender Wildcat Red, ridden by Edgard Zayas lost his steam in the drive and finished 2 1/2 lengths behind Bay of Biscay and Jorge Carreno, who combined for a $452.80 exacta with the winner.

''I think he had a perfect trip,'' said Zayas. ''He didn't have problems. He broke good out of the gate. He just got beat.''



Under equal weights of 124 pounds, Tonito M. paid $12.80, $6.60, and $4.60 for the win, his seventh in 13 starts which boosted his earnings to $444,538. Bay of Biscay returned $38.80 and $17.40, while Wildcat Red was good for a $2.40 show payoff. A $2 trifecta was worth $1,577.40.



Louies Flower held on for fourth, followed by Charge Now, For Goodness Sake, Ibaka, Street Prancer, Away Game, Tulum, Even Echo, Edison, Rebranded, and Declan's Fast Cat.



Tonito M. finished second in his continental U.S. debut in the Lazaro Barrera Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita Park May 10, then ran eighth in the Woody Stephens (gr. II) on the Belmont Stakes undercard June 7. Back in Southern California, he followed up with a third in the Los Alamitos Derby (gr. II) a month later, then was fifth in turf debut in the La Jolla Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Del Mar Aug. 9.



The winner was purchased for $12,000 at the Keeneland September yearling sale in 2012 by Jaime Cervera from consignor Select Sales. He was earlier bought for $4,500 at the Keeneland breeding stock sale in November 2011 by Machmer Hall and Pony World Farm when offered by Lane's End.



One race later on the Remington program, Shanon Nicole, ridden by Rosie Napravnik, coasted to a 5 1/4-length triumph in the listed $200,000 Remington Park Oaks for owner/breeder Connie Apostelos and trainer Mike Maker. Bred in Kentucky, Shannon Nicole ($7.40) is a daughter of Majestic Warrior   out of the Patton mare Crafty Wac.



Shannon Nicole completed the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:44.38. Thegirlinthatsong was second for Hollendorfer, with Haveyougoneaway third. America, the 13-10 choice in the field of eight 3-year-old fillies, finished fourth.



The nightcap on the card, the $150,000 Remington Park Spring Cup, was won by Napravnik as well aboard 7-5 favorite Mico Margarita, who scored by three-quarters of a length for owners Ron Kirk and and Greg McDonald.



Steve Asmussen trains Mico Margarita ($4.80), who was bred in Kentucky by J. Kirk Robison. The chestnut is by Run Away and Hide   out of Wide Range, by Mineshaft  .



Mico Margarita was timed in 1:09.26 for six furlongs. Heitai was second, with Ghost is Clear third.