Columbus track report

Pepper Lang turns back off a victorious route effort and rates a slight edge when she faces six others in the $10,000 Inaugural Stakes at six furlongs as Columbus begins its stakes schedule on the meet's second night of racing Friday.

Trained by Sally Muckey, Pepper Lang has crossed under the wire first four times this year but was twice disqualified for not maintaining a straight course. She finished first in a maiden race in February at Fonner Park and had her number taken down. While that decision was under protest she made starts at the nonwinners-of-two level, where she finished first on April 17, only to see her number taken down again.

As the Nebraska racing season shifted to Lincoln, the appeals were dropped and Pepper Lang officially won her maiden at odds of 1-2 and again won her nonwinners-of-two allowance condition in her third start back on July 9.