Peppers Pride bids for 15 in row
Peppers Pride takes another step toward making history when she goes in search of her 15th consecutive win in Sunday's $100,000 Sydney Valentini Handicap at Sunland Park.
The mile race, for New Mexico-bred fillies and mares, drew a field of seven, and the 5-year-old Peppers Pride carries high weight of 125 pounds.
Trained by Joel Marr, Peppers Pride would come within one of the modern-day record of 16 straight victories - shared by Citation, Mister Frisky, Cigar, and Hallowed Dreams - with a win Sunday.
Peppers Pride faces some tough opposition and hasn't run since capturing the New Mexico Racing Commission Handicap locally on Dec. 16. The layoff was by design, as immediately after the race Marr stated the Sydney Valentini was her next target.
Of Peppers Pride's 14 wins, five have come locally, and she's 2 for 2 going a mile, including the 2007 Sydney Valentini. Carlos Madeira retains the mount.
The new threat is Good Looker RF. Trained by Armando Quintanilla Jr., the 4-year-old Good Looker RF comes off two straight stakes victories. She won the New Mexico Cup Filly at Zia Park on Nov. 11 and then the La Coneja Handicap locally on Dec. 22. All her action has been sprinting, so she tries a new game here.
That sprint speed likely puts her on or near the lead early and may allow her to get first run on Peppers Pride. Ken Tohill rides at 120 pounds.
Theregoesdancer has become something of punching bag for Peppers Pride. She was beaten by Peppers Pride in seven straight races from October 2006 to November 2007, finishing second to that rival on five of those occasions. After spending so much fuel chasing Peppers Pride, Theregoesdancer was a modest fifth sprinting on Feb. 8. She makes her first start for trainer Jimmie Claridge, who adds blinkers. Glen Murphy rides.
Wild Gini comes into the race in peak form, having won three in a row and four of her last five. She has done all her work sprinting against claiming and allowance foes, so the distance and class level here are hurdles.