Toxic Relationship notches upset in Mildred Vessels Handicap

CYPRESS, Calif. - Toxic Relationship avoided the trouble that plagued several rivals to record an upset win in Saturday’s $125,000 Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap for Quarter Horse fillies and mares at Los Alamitos.

The seventh choice in a field of nine, Toxic Relationship ($34.60) won the 400-yard race by a head over 6-1 Lil Longmire, who was disqualified from second and placed last for drifting out in the final 300 yards and causing interference.

As a result of the disqualification, Jess Dream of Me (6-1) and Famous Shining Star (the 11-10 favorite) were promoted from third and fourth to second and third. They started from the two outside post positions and were not affected by the interference.

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Famous Shining Star won her first four starts of 2023, including the $100,000 Charger Bar Handicap at Los Alamitos in January. Had she won the Mildred Vessels, Famous Shining Star would have most likely clinched the older filly championship for 2023. Instead, the prize will be determined by the results of major stakes in coming months.

Toxic Relationship, who was ridden by James Flores, was timed in 19.85 seconds and earned $68,760. A 4-year-old filly, Toxic Relationship has won 6 of 11 starts and earned $126,203.

By Fly Thru Fire, Toxic Relationship is owned by trainer Dean Frey, who is primarily based in Oklahoma and New Mexico. Frey trained Toxic Relationship at Remington Park earlier this year and sent the filly to fellow trainer Monty Arrossa for a late-season campaign at Los Alamitos.

With the win on Sunday, Toxic Relationship earned a berth to the $750,000 Champion of Champions at 440 yards at Los Alamitos on Dec. 9, Quarter Horse racing’s leading race for older horses.

Toxic Relationship is a half-sister to Danjer, the 2021 Quarter Horse World Champion, who died at Ruidoso Downs in June of an aneurysm.

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