Peppi the Hunter sticking with turf Saturday in optional claimer

OLDSMAR, Fla. – No one was sure what to expect when Peppi the Hunter tried turf for the first time Feb. 18, but the gelding took to the grass with aplomb, scoring by three-quarters of a length at 13-1 odds in a first-level optional $75,000 claimer. His backers won’t get nearly as good a price when he runs Saturday in another turf race at that level and at the same 1 1/16-mile distance for a purse of $23,000.

Peppi the Hunter, a 3-year-old son of U S Ranger, has run at this level twice for the optional claiming tag but isn’t in for a tag Saturday. Owner and trainer Joseph Minieri isn’t willing to risk losing a horse who has won three of seven career starts and earned $48,975.

“I got away with running him for a tag because he was an unknown, but now the cat is out of the bag, and I can’t take no more chances,” Minieri said.

Peppi the Hunter is part of a field of eight 3-year-olds, plus one entrant for the main track only, in the first race on a 10-race card. He scored a career-best 75 Beyer Speed Figure in his turf debut, the highest last-race mark in this field.

“He was bred for the turf, being by U S Ranger, so I gave him a try,” Minieri said. “I galloped him over the turf at Delaware, and the exercise rider said he really liked it. His running style made me believe he would like the turf. He’s a closer. He doesn’t have a lot of speed, but he picks it up as he goes, with a long stride.”

The top challengers to Peppi the Hunter appear to be Uncle Jerry and Italian Charm. Uncle Jerry, an Uncle Mo colt, finished second to Peppi the Hunter in that Feb. 18 race and is having blinkers removed by trainer Eoin Harty. Italian Charm, a Gio Ponti colt trained by Christophe Clement, won his maiden in his second start last out, taking a $20,600 maiden special weight race on the Tampa turf course Feb. 14.

◗ Race 4, a first-level allowance with a $23,000 purse, drew a full field of 10 older fillies and mares, plus one also-eligible, set to go one mile on turf. Orient Harbor, a 5-year-old First Samurai mare trained by Shug McGaughey, will be making her 2016 debut while stepping down from richer allowances on the New York Racing Association circuit. She meets Emyvale Court, a 4-year-old Stormy Atlantic filly who won a $20,000 maiden special weight race here Feb. 18 for trainer Tom Proctor in her lone start this year.

◗ Race 9 is a $23,000 maiden special weight race going seven furlongs on the main track. The race drew a field of 10 fillies and mares ages 3 and up. A. P. Sonata, a 5-year-old A.P. Indy mare who cost $1.1 million as a yearling, will be making the fifth start of her career, her first since last May, and her first for trainer Todd Quast after previously running for trainer Bill Mott. Quast is winless with six starters at the meet, but three ran in the money.