Jockey Cesar Franco pilots Show N Tell Cartel (#10) to victory in the $235,600 El Primero Del Año Derby on Sunday night at Los Alamitos.

© Amber Mendez

LOS ALAMITOS, CA–MARCH 23, 2025– Mario Montiel was the fortunate winner of a 14-way shake to claim Show N Tell Cartel for $16,000 after the Tell Cartel gelding's second-place finish in the $53,500 Los Alamitos Claiming Futurity on August 18th of last year.

Seven months later, Montiel's Show N Tell Cartel is a major graded derby winner at Los Alamitos, as the Link Newcomb-bred runner held off a terrific finish by Ed Allred's Defending Champ to win the $235,600 El Primero Del Año Derby on Sunday night at Los Alamitos.

Show N Tell Cartel has been the claim of the year at Los Alamitos, as the Oklahoma-bred broke his maiden in his first start for his new connections, then ran second in the Ah Sigh Handicap, qualified to the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity and now has won the Grade 2 El Primero by a head from the outside post number 10.

Trainer Eleana Andrade and owners Mario and Oscar Montel accept the El Primero Del Ano Derby stakes trophy.
© William Zuazo

This win earned his connections $98,952, more than six times his original claiming price. All in all, the Elena Andrade-trained Show N Tell Cartel has earned $203,155 in his eight starts for Montiel.

"We're very proud of this horse," said Mario's 18-year-old son, Oscar Montiel. "He's drawn towards the inside in many of his races. This time he got the outside post, and we've learned about this horse. He ran a beautiful race, and he made it happen."

"I'm just very proud," Mario Montiel said. "We've always had horses, and we love racing. We love racing our horses at Los Alamitos and this is a thrill. I'm originally form Hidalgo, Mexico and now live in Westminster (about seven miles from Los Alamitos). I come to the track every chance I get whether it's a Thursday, Friday or on the weekends."

"I have so many memories of coming to Los Alamitos with my dad," Oscar added. "I can remember being on his back so I could watch the horses run. Now we're here after winning a big race."

Cesar Franco after piloting Show N Tell Cartel to victory in the El Primero Del Ano Derby. © William Zuazo

Mario Montiel works in the automobile industry, while his teenage son is currently attending Cypress College. And the reason that Montiel decided to drop a claim on Show N Tell Cartel was a simple one.

"It was his class," he said. "I wanted the horse for myself."

Ridden by Cesar Franco, who was enjoying the most important win of his riding career, Show N Tell Cartel improved his record to two wins from 13 career starts while taking his earnings to $215,490.

Show N Tell Cartel is out of Celtic Rhythm, a daughter of AQHA World Champion Apollitical Jess, and out of the graded stakes winner Three Green Leaves. As for trainer Elena Andrade, Show N Tell Cartel is the third graded stakes winner of her career.

Show N Tell Cartel walks into the Los Alamitos Race Course winner's circle. © William Zuazo

She had previously trained Uno Corona Mas to victory in the Grade 2 Southern California Derby and Jess Mas in her Grade 2 Las Damas Handicap win. Show N Tell Cartel is also the second richest Quarter Horse she has trained, only behind 2021 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity runner-up Jess Being A Friend ($453,123).

"I'm big on vibe and our vibe has really been flowing in the last few weeks," Andrade said. "Our barn has grown so we've had to incorporate some new team members. I'm all about everyone clicking and everyone being on the same page. I'm so proud of my team right now.

Show N Tell Cartel (#10), under jockey Cesar Franco, drives to victory in the El Primero Del Ano Derby. © William Zuazo

"I've watched him and saw that hopefully when he matured a little bit that distance would be to his favor," she added. "Just getting him to break a little sharper was key. We felt that if we drew a post position farther to the outside that he would handle it better. We've drawn to the inside a lot and he's handled it well so I figured that he could flourish outside. Making it to the Two Million was a Cinderella story. Winning this is just as great.

"We just try to figure out what makes horses happy and handling them every single day, being with them and figuring out their little quirks," Andrade added. "I've learned to listen to what they need. With him, we just needed to wait for him to grow up a little bit. He's grown so much. He's matured immensely. We'll give him a little break and give him some more time to grow."

Sent off at 10-1 odds, Show N Tell Cartel covered the distance in :20.037.

El Primero Del Ano Derby winner Show N Tell Cartel in the Los Alamitos saddling paddock. © William Zuazo

Allred's Defending Champ, a gelding by Favorite Cartel out of Eagle On The Fly, earned $40,052 for his game second-place finish. The Steve Burns-bred runner won his first two races of the year and was only 3/100ths of a second away from winning this race. Gabriel Lara piloted Defending Champ from post number eight for trainer Scott Willoughby.

Cheryl Stokes, Armando Arreola, and Tungsten Racing Partnership's Train B Taka earned $28,272 for running third from post number one. Edwin Escobedo piloted the son of Freighttrain B, who entered this race as the fastest qualifier for trainer Marc Jungers. He previously ran second in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby.

Speed Favorite, Favorite Semental, Fire Tools 123, Midnight Mood and Jess Send Kevin complete the field. Ultimate Battle and Do The Job were scratched from this race.

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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.