ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 22, 2009) – Sent off at odds of 10-1 following 14 months on the sidelines, Red Tomatoes closed strongly along the rail Thursday to edge 22-1 shot Small But Mighty by one-half length in Oak Tree’s featured $42,800 Cambria Purse for California-bred fillies and mares at six furlongs over Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride surface.

The upset by Red Tomatoes, on top of 15-1 shot Fiery Rebel’s victory in the previous race, generated a Pick Six carryover of $54,969 into Oak Tree’s “Free Friday” program which offers free General Admission, with special first post at 2 p.m.

With jockey Joel Rosario saving precious ground on the inside, Red Tomatoes ran the Cambria distance in 1:09.97 as Small But Mighty, ridden by Alonso Quinonez, gained the place, another half-length ahead of pace-setter Easy Ashley and jockey Tyler Baze.

“That was a great ride by Joel Rosario,” winning trainer Marty Jones said afterward, “but this is a pretty good filly. That was the key to her winning today.”

Harris Farms’ Red Tomatoes, a 4-year-old homebred daughter of Downtown Seattle out of Tomato Paste, paid $22.80, $11.40 and $6.20. The prices on Small But Mighty were $19.40 and $10. Easy Ashley paid $4.20 to show.

The winner had not raced since Aug. 25 of 2008 at Del Mar, her third career start after breaking her maiden in her debut at Hollywood Park four months earlier.

“Everything seemed to go wrong at Del Mar after she had broken her maiden,” Jones said. “So we had to give her a lot of time off, but she had been training great in preparation for this.”

Red Tomatoes second career victory in her fourth start was worth $25,200 which increased her career earnings to $58,660.

Oak Tree’s “Free Fridays” promotion also includes free box seats on a first-come, first-served basis. Hot dogs, sodas, beer, popcorn and coffee are each priced at $1. Friday’s Pick Six will cover races three through eight.