Peppers Pride loses first foal

Peppers Pride has lost the Tiznow foal she was carrying, her breeder and co-owner Joe Allen said on Thursday. It was to be the first foal for the history-making mare, who retired undefeated in 19 starts in January. Allen said the foal had been due in late February or early March. He said Peppers Pride will probably be bred back to Tiznow next season. She is based in Kentucky.

Allen said Peppers Pride lost her foal about 10 days ago.

"We had her checked not too long ago and everything was fine," Allen said. "We had the foal checked and it had no problems. It's just one of those things. There's no rhyme or reason.

"I was headed to my doctor for my annual stress test when they called me. It was just kind of a sickening feeling. I've been in this long enough. Stuff happens."

Peppers Pride raced throughout her career for Allen, who last month sold a half-interest in her to Michael Stinson. Allen and Stinson each then gave a 5 percent interest in the mare to Joel Marr, her longtime trainer. Stinson also bought half-interest in nine horses Allen currently has racing, and the new partnership will be represented with several starters on the $2 million New Mexico Cup card at Zia Park on Sunday.

Zia has named a $170,000 stakes on the program for Peppers Pride, a New Mexico-bred who holds the longest winning streak in modern North American history. She is a 6-year-old daughter of Desert God and retired with earnings of $1,066,085.