Train B Taka (#3), piloted by Edwin Escobedo, prevails over Kid Cocinero (#10) in the Dillingham Stakes on Saturday at Los Alamitos.

© Amber Mendez

LOS ALAMITOS, CA–MAY 10, 2025–May 10th was National Train Day, marking the anniversary of the transcontinental railroad's completion in the United States in 1869.

Appropriately enough on this night, the gelding Train B Taka continued to roll along at Los Alamitos, as the dashing gray posted one of the best come-from-behind stakes victories of the meet, turning a one length deficit with less than 150 yards to go in the $30,000 Dillingham Handicap into a spectacular nose victory in the 400 yard race here on Saturday night.

Owned by Cheryl Stokes, Armando Arreola, and Tungsten Racing Partnership and trained by Marc Jungers, Train B Taka broke nicely from post number three but was no match for the impressive early speed shown by Sandra Lee Ambus' rocket Paint Horse Kid Cocinero in this race.

Roman Figueroa, Edwin Escobedo, Brenda Figueroa and Shonna Smith accept the trophy after Train B Taka won the Dillingham Stakes at Los Alamitos on Saturday.
© Los Alamitos

Kid Cocinero took off from the outside post to take the lead over Ed Allred's Listen Now as the two neared the midway point, all while jockey Edwin Escobedo worked on getting the most out of Train B Taka with the belief that the gelding by Freighttrain B would find his highest gear at any moment.

That moment came as he approached the finish line, while also taking advantage of Kid Cocinero lugged in and Listen Now having to deal with a shrinking racing lane due to crowding by the horses around him.

In the meantime, Train B Taka kept digging in, just like had done in his trial to the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby when winning that race as well by the slimmest of margins. Train B Taka did not let his impressive finish go to waste, as he took the lead in the final jumps to earn his fifth in seven career starts at Los Alamitos.

Covering the distance in :19.945, Train B Taka earned $16,500 for the win to take his career bankroll to $169,567.

Also the winner of the Holiday Handicap for juveniles on December 28, the gray gelding bred by Rancho El Cabresto added this stakes victory to his second-place finish in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby and his third-place finish in the Grade 2 El Primero Del Ano Derby in what has already been a strong season for him at Los Alamitos.

For Escobedo, the 22-year-old rider has won nine races from 24 mounts at Los Alamitos since arriving here with Jungers late last year. The jockey won the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity with Lethal Cowboy 123 while riding Train B Taka in all five of his victories here.

"I thought I had the race lost, but he proved me wrong," Escobedo said. "The last 10 yards, he just flew at the end. The whole way I had pressure on me, since the gates never had a chance to ease up. I had to keep him busy the whole way. He finished strong. He has a really big heart that little horse. Since I was growing up, I always wanted to ride at Los Alamitos. To now come here and win, it's a really good feeling."

Ridden by Cesar Franco for trainer Angela Aquino, Kid Cocinero earned $6,750 for the win to take his career earnings to $24,756. The Paint Horse bred by Jon and Brant Barley and sired by Crm Livewire scored an allowance win in his local debut back on April 5.

Listen Now, with Gabriel Lara up for trainer Scott Willoughby, earned $3,750 for running third.

Misdeal, Favorite Semental, Party Time Tom, Jess Send Kevin, and Gimy A Reason completed the field.

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For more information, please get in touch with larace@losalamitos.com. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @losalracing or visit us online at www.losalamitos.com.