Chocolatito rallies to win Vessels Maturity

Chocolatito won the first six-figure race of his career in Sunday’s $157,400 Vessels Maturity, displaying a strong rally through the final 200 yards.

Ridden by regular rider Vinnie Bednar, Chocolatito was fifth early in the 400-yard race, about a half-length behind leader Jess Macho Corona. The second choice in a field of nine, Chocolatito ($7) was within a neck of Jess Macho Corona midway through the race and won by a half-length in 19.62 seconds.

Jess Macho Corona (5-1) finished three-quarters of a length in front of 3-2 favorite Mister Appolitical, who had won his five previous starts.

Cole Man 47 was fourth, followed by Bail Czech, Get Away Car, Santander, Kissed by an Eagle, and Jess Bet Me, who pulled up in distress in the final 100 yards and was vanned off.

Chocolatito, a 4-year-old gelding by Favorite Cartel, has won 8 of 16 starts and earned $176,523. At times in his career, he has been plagued by slow starts, but has won three of his four races this year.

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Trained by Scott Willoughby for Los Alamitos track owner Ed Allred, Chocolatito earned a berth to the $600,000 Champion of Champions on Dec. 12, a race Allred, Willoughby, and Bednar teamed to win last year with He Looks Hot.

He Looks Hot was the 2019 Quarter Horse World Champion and was retired in January, Sadly, Willoughby said Sunday that He Looks Hot was euthanized in June at Allred’s ranch after a bout with colic, which plagued the gelding earlier in his life. He Looks Hot was 8.