Marr loaded with statebreds for big day at Ruidoso

Peppers Pride began her assault on the New Mexico-bred stakes program back in 2005, when she won the Rio Grande Senorita Futurity during Zia Racing Festival at Ruidoso Downs. Fast-forward to 2010, and her trainer, Joel Marr, is still attacking the program. He will start seven horses on this year's Festival card of 10 stakes for Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses. Purses for the races total $1.1 million, making Sunday's program one of the richest of the meet at Ruidoso.
"It's the one day all summer at Ruidoso you have for New Mexico-breds to kind of gear up for," Marr said. "It's a big day for the breeders, and it is the prelude to our yearling sales for both Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses."
There are six stakes for Thoroughbreds on Sunday, and Marr will send out defending champ Fullofenergy in the main event, the $50,000 Land of Enchantment. The 7 1/2-furlong race is for 3-year-olds and up and goes as the 10th and final race. Fullofenergy, for a lack of racing opportunities, will be making his first start in about two months in the Land of Enchantment. In his most recent start he won the $100,000
Jack Cole for New Mexico-breds at SunRay Park.
"I think he's ready," Marr said. "We haven't got to run since May, so it's been a while. That's the only thing that bothers me. Most of the horses have had an out a lot closer than he has, and that definitely seems to be an asset over this surface. But he's going to try hard. He likes it here."
Fullofenergy is 4 for 9 at Ruidoso. He will be ridden by Carlos Madeira.
Marr will also be active in both Thoroughbred stakes for 2-year-olds. Texas Silver goes in the $189,633 Rio Grande Senor Futurity at 5 1/2 furlongs. He was third in his trial race at Ruidoso.
"Texas Silver came out of his race well," Marr said. "It was in the mud that day. I'm hoping he really didn't like the circumstances and that we have a dry track Sunday and things work better."
Marr has Colors of Pompeii for this year's Rio Grande Senorita Futurity. When he won the race with Peppers Pride, it was the beginning of a historic run, as she retired with a 19-for-19 record that set a modern North American mark for consecutive wins. These days, Peppers Pride is in foal to Distorted Humor, and is due in March.