Peppers Pride Dominates Rivals, Takes Thirteenth Step To
Record
HOBBS, New Mexico (November 11, 2007) -
Joseph Allen's homebred Peppers Pride raced to her 13th
straight victory and took a superstitious step towards a record 16th win to
start a career when she romped to victory in the $170,000 New Mexico Cup
Championship Fillies And Mares at Zia Park.
The New Mexico Cup Championship Fillies And Mares was the
high-profile race on the New Mexico Cup program on Sunday afternoon. The New
Mexico Cup program is an annual celebration of New Mexico-bred racing at Zia
Park with 11 stakes races for state-breds and $2 million in purses.
Jockey Carlos Madeira allowed Peppers Pride to race near
the lead and they went to the front in the final
furlong. They rolled under the wire with a 1:10 3/5-second time for the six
furlongs.
"We try not to gain the lead too quick with her," trainer Joel Marr said. "When
she gets to the lead,
she pricks her ears and pulls herself up." Peppers Pride is chasing the
modern-day record of 16
wins to start a career. That record is shared by Mister Frisky, who came to the
United States from
Puerto Rico, and the Louisiana-bred sprinter Hallowed Dreams.
Peppers Pride has raced exclusive in New Mexico against
state-bred female competition, like she
defeated on Sunday afternoon. "We're just going to take it one race at a time
with
her," Marr said. "We'll run her as long as she's sound and then one day she just
won't be entered. We'll take
her to Sunland Park this winter for her next start." Peppers Pride, with ears
pricked, crossed the finish
line two lengths ahead of Hang Glide and Let The Musicbegin was another
one-and-three-quarter lengths
back in third.

13 for 13 Peppers Pride -
photo credit Ty Wyant
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