Marr boasts two-pronged attack in Peppers Pride
A win from either Desert Stepper or Zasha in the $85,000 Peppers Pride Handicap on Saturday at Sunland Park would be satisfying on several levels for trainer Joel Marr. He trained the race’s namesake, the undefeated New Mexico-bred millionaire who went 19 for 19.
The one-mile Peppers Pride is restricted to older fillies and mares bred in New Mexico. It is scheduled to be the first Thoroughbred stakes at Sunland in more than a month, as the track is putting on a mixed meet was forced to suspend live racing Jan. 23. There was an outbreak of equine herpesvirus, but no new cases had been reported in six days through Tuesday night, and the track was expected to resume racing Friday.
KEY CONTENDERS
Desert Stepper, by Desert God
Last 3 Beyers: 74-46-63
◗ By the same sire as Peppers Pride, she is making her first start of the year. Desert Stepper closed out her 3-year-old season with a 7 1/4-length conditioned-allowance win Nov. 25 at Zia Park. The 74 Beyer Speed Figure that Desert Stepper earned for her effort is the best last-race number in the Peppers Pride.
◗ Desert Stepper will break from post 2 under Ken Tohill.
Zasha, by Desert God
Last 3 Beyers: 45-53-57
◗ She, too, is a daughter of Desert God, the sire of Peppers Pride.
◗ Zasha is a multiple stakes winner looking to recapture her best form. She is moving back to two turns, and she is a multiple stakes winner at a route configuration.
◗ Jose Medina has the mount from post 3.