Zia Park: Marr hopes That's Who, Chica's Minister continue streaks

Joel Marr knows all about training a horse on a win streak: Think Peppers Pride. She went 19 for 19, and Marr has a chance to recapture a bit of that magic Sunday with two horses who bring notable win streaks into the $2 million New Mexico Cup at Zia Park.

That’s Who will be chasing his seventh straight win in the $180,000 Rocky Gulch Classic, while Chica’s Minister will attempt to remain undefeated in four starts when he runs in the $140,000 Colts and Geldings Championship.

The races are part of a program of 12 stakes for New Mexico-breds. There are eight offerings for Thoroughbreds, including the new $120,000 Filly and Mare Sprint, and four races for Quarter Horses, led by the $288,830 New Mexico Classic Futurity. The card is one of the richest statebred programs in North America. It was introduced in 2005.

No trainer has won more New Mexico Cup stakes than Marr, who has compiled 14 victories in the series, including four courtesy of the now-retired Peppers Pride. That’s Who will attempt to add to Marr’s totals in the Rocky Gulch, a one-mile race for 3-year-olds and up. He enters with his confidence soaring. That’s Who, a 4-year-old gelded son of Quinton’s Gold, missed half of last year but has been in the zone since April, when his streak began in an allowance at SunRay Park.

“He’s doing awfully well lately, and I hope he keeps it up,” Marr said. “He was a nice horse as a 2-year-old, was a stakes winner, and he was a champion in the state at 3. He [then] went through a rough time. We turned him out, worked on his feet a little bit, and he came back really well. He’s just been extremely happy.”

That’s Who has won five allowances since April. His other win during the streak came in the $50,000 Land of Enchantment at Ruidoso in July. That’s Who, who races for his breeders, Sam and Latane Stevens, will break from post 4 under regular rider Alfredo Juarez Jr.

“He has the speed to be on the lead if he needed to be, but he’s manageable,” Marr said. “He’s smart. He doesn’t have to be there. He’s very manageable in the race. That’s part of what’s helped him to win several races, his intelligence.”

Others set to start include On Down the Road, the defending champ making his first start since July.

Chica’s Minister makes his first stakes start in the Colts and Geldings Championship, a six-furlong race for 3-year-olds. He won his debut at Sunland in April and proceeded to account for a pair of conditioned allowances in July and October, between Ruidoso and Zia.

“I’m excited about him,” Marr said. “He’s undefeated so far. He’s definitely going to face his toughest competition as of yet on Sunday. [But] he’s very talented and he’s doing well.”

Carlos Madeira, the winningest New Mexico Cup jockey with eight victories in the series, has the mount from post 12. Chica’s Minister races for Jim Volk.

Marr’s other major player on the card is Iplaytricks, who should start as the favorite as she attempts to defend her title in the $170,000 Peppers Pride. She won the local prep for the race by more than four lengths Oct. 1.

“Her last race was just exactly what we wanted,” Marr said. “Everything worked out perfectly, and she came out of the race well. She’s doing as good as she’s ever done. She’s matured a lot. A lot of Desert Gods don’t truly mature until 5-, 6-years-old. In my opinion, anyway.”

Marr trained Desert God’s most prolific offspring in Peppers Pride, whom he now owns a small share in with Joe Allen and Michael Stinson, the latter of whom owns Iplaytricks. Marr said Peppers Pride is in foal to Hard Spun, while a yearling colt of hers by Distorted Humor sold for $300,000 at the recent September auction at Keeneland.