Peppers Pride tries again for 17 in a row

The undefeated PEPPERS PRIDE (Desert God) will bid to set a modern North

American record on Saturday when she goes for her 17th straight triumph in the

8TH

race at Zia Park. The New Mexico-bred won her 16th in a row in the April 26

Russell and Helen Foutz Distaff H., tying the existing mark shared by 1948

Triple Crown legend Citation, 1995-96 Horse of the Year Cigar, 1990 Santa Anita

Derby (G1) winner Mister Frisky and Louisiana-bred star Hallowed Dreams.

Peppers Pride has had two previous record-breaking attempts scrapped because

of weather conditions. The Joel Marr trainee was entered in the July 27 Lincoln

H. at Ruidoso Downs, but the card was canceled after the remnants of Hurricane

Dolly deluged the track. When the Lincoln was rescheduled on August 31, the

rains came again and made it sloppy. Marr chose to withdraw the mare, who has

raced only on fast tracks.

"It probably has had an effect and we'll find out Saturday," Marr said of the

on-again, off-again tilt at history. "But she has been training well. She's

doing well."

Since her August 31 scratch, Peppers Pride has recorded two works, both at

Zia Park. She drilled five furlongs in 1:02 1/5 on September 9, and on September

23, she negotiated a half-mile in :51 1/5.

A homebred campaigned by Joe Allen, Peppers Pride has raced exclusively

against fellow New Mexico-bred fillies and mares. The dark bay five-year-old has

won at distances ranging from 5 1/2 furlongs to one mile, bagging 12 stakes in

the process. Peppers Pride captured last year's Lincoln in front-running

fashion, but she typically rallies from off the pace, as she did successfully in

the 6 1/2-furlong Foutz Distaff beneath exclusive rider Carlos Madeira.

In Saturday's six-furlong allowance/optional claimer for state-breds, Peppers

Pride will meet only five rivals. Four of them are exiting the Lincoln, led by

runner-up SILVER EXPRESSION (Silver Season), a multiple stakes queen who will be

facing Peppers Pride for the first time. Ironically, the only mare entered for

the $35,000 tag, MISS POSSIBILITY (Chimes Band), will carry the top weight of

124 pounds under the race conditions, spotting four to Peppers Pride and the

others.

So far, the weather appears unlikely to wreck Peppers Pride's prospects for

the third time. The forecast for Hobbs, New Mexico, looks favorable, with

bright, sunny skies and no rain through Saturday.