LOS ALAMITOS, CA—MAY 19, 2019— Ed Allred's Chocolatito was tremendous in his stakes debut, as he easily defeated a strong group of sophomores to win the $25,000 Dillingham Handicap at 400 yards on Saturday at Los Alamitos.

Ridden by Vinnie Bednar for trainer Scott Willoughby, Chocolatito left the gate just a step behind Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes runner-up Cavuto, but took the lead a few moments later.

Howard Nichols' Dexxter pushed the leader at the halfway point of the race, but it was all Chocolatito in the final 150 yards. The gelding by Favorite Cartel powered his way to the finish line from that point on, cruising to a 1 ½ length victory in one of the fastest times of the meet at this distance of :19.559. Lightly raced during his freshman season, Chocolatito was making only his fifth career start. He's won three of those starts, including both of his outings in 2019.

"The horse is coming along fantastic," Willoughby said. "We ran him once earlier this year and he ran great. We've been sitting on him since last year. We had some bad luck in the trials to the Golden State Million Futurity. The horse next to him threw a fit and he went through the front (of the gate). He came back a little sore so we decided not to run him in the (trials to the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity) and wait for the derbies this year. It looks like it has worked out."

Chocolatito is eligible to run in the trials to the Grade 2 Golden State Derby, Grade 1 Los Alamitos Super Derby, and Grade 2 Southern California Derby.

"I'm thrilled with him," Willoughby added. "I couldn't ask for more."

For Allred, a member of the AQHA Hall of Fame, the Dillingham Handicap was his 101st Quarter Horse stakes win.

On Friday night, Allred became the first Quarter Horse owner to go over the $20 million mark in career earnings after Manhunter won the 8th race, an allowance event at 100 yards. Chocolatito added another $13,750 in earnings to Allred's career bankroll, which now stands at a record $20,017,047.

Chocolatito has earned $26,110 of that amount in his five-race career. Chocolatito was purchased for $50,000 at the 2017 Los Alamitos Equine Sale.

Ridden by Jose Nicasio for trainer Jaime Gomez, Dexxter earned $5,625 for his runner-up effort. Fourth in last year's Grade 1 Ed Burke Million Futurity and this year's El Primero Del Año Derby, Dexxter has earned $160,099 in his career.

Pedro Rangel's Cavuto finished third and was followed across the wire by Tac Me Up, Callender, Bail Czech, Bos Time Machine, Majestic Mr Perry, and Cava Yee Tah.

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Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.