Pepper Crown prevails in Rolling Green Stakes

Pepper Crown ($23.20) used the same tactics he used in his $94.20 upset in the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile this spring, skimming the rail and winning a sprint to the finish line to take the $63,170 Rolling Green Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on Monday.

Just as he did in the San Francisco Mile, Abel Cedillo got a ground-saving trip behind a contentious pace battle between the favored Black Spirit and Reno Rebel, the longest shot on the board.

“He broke perfect,” said Cedillo. “A couple horses went to the lead, and I just sat behind them and saved ground.”

While early leader Reno Rebel and Black Spirit dueled, Cedillo sat inside Beast of Bourbon, saving ground. He moved up as the two leaders began to tire and waited for an opening, just as he had in the San Francisco Mile. When he got it, Pepper Crown rallied gamely to go past Beast of Bourbon, who had swept past the tiring leaders.

Pepper Crown continued strongly to the wire, holding off Salah Champ by a head, with Beast of Bourbon another 1 1/4 lengths back, edging Trend by a head for third. The winning time for the 1 1/16-mile turf race was 1:43.54.

“I was hoping [Black Spirit] would drift out a little bit, and I got lucky,” said Cedillo. “He came off the fence, and my horse finished very strong. He’s a nice horse.”

Owner, breeder, and trainer Alex Paszkeicz said Pepper Crown had trouble handling the turf at Santa Rosa in the Joseph T. Grace Handicap when fourth in his last start.

“This makes up for it,” he said. “He’s a go-getter. He tries real hard.”

The victory, worth $39,450, was Pepper Crown’s sixth in 14 starts and increased his bankroll to $210,933.