(Edited press release)
The undefeated Thoroughbred Pepper’s Pride and Zia Park Quarter Horse Championship winner Ketel Won have been named the Zia Park horses of the meet for their respective breeds.
Joe Allen’s homebred Pepper’s Pride is gaining national attention with her career-starting win streak reaching 13 races following her two victories at Zia Park this fall.
The Joel Marr-trained 3-year-old filly easily captured an allowance race by seven lengths, and then rallied to a two-length victory in the $182,000 New Mexico Cup Fillies and Mares Championship during New Mexico Cup Day Nov. 11.
All of Pepper's Pride's 13 career wins have been against New Mexico-bred females. She is chasing the modern record of 16 wins starting a career shared by Mr Frisky and Hallowed Dreams.
On the Thoroughbred side of the mixed 48-day meet, Tap Dancing Mauk was named the top older horse and Yonegwa was honored as the leading juvenile.
Tap Dancing Mauk made just one start at Zia Park when he shipped in from Churchill Downs to defend his title in the $186,000 Zia Park Distance Championship. He got a ground-saving trip from jockey Casey Lambert to win by 1 1/4 lengths.
Yonegwa prevailed in a contentious field of 2-year-olds by virtue of his hard-fought win in the Governor’s Stakes.
Cronus was honored as champion distance horse and was the sole multiple stakes winner during the Zia Park season. He won three straight races at the New Mexico facility, capped by his wins in the Herman Jefferson Stakes and the Black Gold Casino Stakes.