Sunland Park: Piratz Stash among trio of Marr starters in Peppers Pride

Trainer Joel Marr will attack the $85,000 Peppers Pride Handicap at Sunland Park on Saturday, and with good reason. Marr trained the race’s namesake, the New Mexico-bred star who retired undefeated in 19 starts with earnings of more than $1 million.

The Peppers Pride, to be run at a mile, is restricted to older fillies and mares bred in New Mexico. It drew a field of 10.

Marr will be represented by Desert Avenue, who was third last out in the $177,000 Peppers Pride New Mexico Classic Cup at Zia Park in October; Soaring Dea, the runner-up in a Zia optional claimer Nov. 13; and Piratz Stash, who races for Joe Allen, the breeder who also raced Peppers Pride.

Piratz Stash has recency over the other Marr starters, having last raced Dec. 21. She was a 4 1/2-length winner of a six-furlong allowance at Sunland. Carlos Maderia, who rode Peppers Pride throughout her career, also is the regular rider of Piratz Stash. She will break from post 6.

Desert Avenue and Soaring Dea are both by Desert God, the same sire as Peppers Pride.

Gossip Dome, a stakes winner trained by Chris Zamora, is the most accomplished member in Saturday’s cast as a nine-time winner who has earned $229,617. She was third last out in the $85,000 New Mexico Racing Commission Handicap at Sunland on Dec. 8. Alfredo Juarez Jr. has the mount from post 8.

The 120-pound starting highweight is Western Way, off a third-place finish against optional-claiming rivals at Sunland on Feb. 1.