Zia: Joel Marr-trained horses win three stakes on New Mexico Cup card

Horses trained by Joel Marr swept the three richest Thoroughbred races on the $2 million New Mexico Cup card at Zia Park on Sunday, with On Down the Road capturing the $180,000 Rocky Gulch, Iplaytricks upsetting 1-5 favorite Rose’s Desert in the $170,000 Peppers Pride, and Attitude E Racer accounting for the $170,000 Sprint.

The races were part of an 11-stakes card for New Mexico-breds. There were seven stakes for Thoroughbreds and four for Quarter Horses and together the races made for one of the richest statebred championship programs in North America.

On Down the Road ($13) rallied past Cross Chris Run for a 1 3/4-length win in the Rocky Gulch, which was for 3-year-olds and up at a mile. Cross Chris Run held second, finishing 1 ¾ lengths in front of favorite and third-place finisher Smash Dancer.

On Down the Road covered the distance on a fast track in 1:38.94. Ry Eikleberry was aboard for Lisa Rehburg.

In the Peppers Pride, named for the 19-for-19 mare trained by Marr, Iplaytricks overtook Rose’s Desert for a length win. Iplaytricks ($24.60) stalked the pace under Ken Tohill, and went on to win the one-mile race for fillies and mares in 1:40.80. It was another 3 3/4 lengths back in third to Cali Baby.

Michael Stinson owns Iplaytricks, as well as Attitude E Racer, who stalked and rolled to a 1 1/2-length win in the $170,000 Sprint. Tohill was aboard the winner, who covered six furlongs in 1:10.29.

Trainer Todd Fincher sent out two winners on the card. His first came with Thermal ($25.60), who rallied for a three-length win over Indication N M in the $140,000 Juvenile. The winner covered six furlongs in 1:11.16. Duane Sterling was aboard for owner R.D. Hubbard.

Fincher’s other winner was Hennesey Smash ($4.80) in the $140,000 Filly Championship. She wired the field for a 2 1/4-length win in the six-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies, covering the distance in 1:10.47. Casey Lambert rode for Barbara Coleman.

* Midnightlowdown pulled the biggest upset on the card when he dueled and prevailed at 80-1 in the $140,000 Colts and Geldings Championship for 3-year-olds. Midnightlowdown paid $163.60. The winner scored by two lengths, and covered six furlongs in 1:10.83. Sterling was aboard for trainer Gerald Marr. Midnightlowdown races for William Rezzonico and Jeremy Trujillo.

* Back Seat Roll ($8.20) closed for a three-length win in the $140,000 Juvenile Fillies. She covered six furlongs in 1:11.17. Enrique Gomez was aboard for Judy and J. Kirk Robison and trainer Henry Dominguez.

* Dashin Ace ($72.80) took the richest race on the card, when proving a neck best in the $293,550 Futurity for Quarter Horses.