blow up the tote

Alternative forms

 * light up the tote

Etymology
From the whimsical notion that the payout on a particularly high-priced longshot might be a larger number than the tote board is capable of computing and/or displaying.

Verb

 * 1)  To win a race as a long shot.

Usage notes
The shortest odds at which a horse can be said to have blown up the tote is a matter of opinion.