LONDON TOBY WINS THE FIRST DOWN DASH IN HIS STAKES DEBUT

        Ed Allred, Quarter Horse racing’s all-time leading owner and breeder, heaped high praise on his ultra-talented homebred London Toby after his impressive victory in the Grade 3, $35,000 First Down Dash Handicap on Sunday at Los Alamitos.

        “I don’t want to get carried away, but I think he’s the best horse I’ve ever owned,” Allred said. “He’s so fast and he’s so smart too.”

        A winner in each of his last four starts with every victory being a sensational one, London Toby has had stomach ailments which have sidelined him in the past. When he’s raced, London Toby has been in a class of his own. He’s won his races by 1 ½ lengths, 4 lengths, 1 ¼ lengths, and now the 400-yard First Down Dash by two lengths. He won the First Down Dash in a time of :19.667 while leading by daylight the entire race. If he can stay healthy, the sky is the limit for London Toby.

        “He’s been a patient of the University of California Davis a couple of times,” Allred said. “They’ve worked on him and did a good job with him. He has a special diet, lives outside, we’re scared to death that it’s going to come back on him. It’s never completely gone. It’s under control. He’s gained 200 to 300 pounds. I just hope we can hold him down.”

        London Toby is eligible to run in the trials to the Grade 1 Brad McKinzie Los Alamitos Winter Championship in late January.

       “He’s going to be 5-years-old,” Allred said. “I’ll keep my fingers crossed. Every race that we get out of him is a joy.”

        Ridden by Jesus Rios Ayala and trained by Scott Willoughby, London Toby earned $19,250 in the First Down Dash to nearly double his lifetime earnings to $39,995. He’s won four of six career starts. This was his first ever start in a stakes race.

       Fernando Flores’ Mister Tornado ran second, while Johnny Trotter’s Famous Cartel Jess finished third. All Ways and Gentleman Chuck completed the field.

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