Strike a Deal Ends Losing Streak; Peppers Pride Scores 18th Win

by Patricia Woo | Nov 11 2008

It was a weekend of streaks in the horse racing world - for Strike a Deal, one finally broken; for Peppers Pride, one extended.

Strike a Deal finally found his way into the winner's circle with his gutsy win in the $150,000 Gr. 2 Red Smith Handicap on Saturday, Nov. 8 at Aqueduct. Not only had the Smart Strike colt not won in his last 10 outings, but he had been runner-up a frustrating six times.

Presious Passion led for most of the 11-furlong turf race before Lauro took over with a furlong remaining. But at the turn, Strike a Deal rallied from five wide and won by seven lengths.

Jockey Chuck Lopez had a challenging ride, keeping Strike a Deal wide and away from the flying sod from the soggy track. After the race, Lopez noted: "He's difficult... I had my hands full at one point." But he was also full of praise for the way his mount handled the yielding track, saying, "The course was soft and he handled it well... I tagged him once left-handed and he just took off."

The 4-year-old colt's first win since his the Straight Deal Stakes at Belmont back in May 2007 had trainer Alan Goldberg elated... and relieved. "It took two years," Goldberg said. "One thing about it, he kept trying. He's been such a frustrating horse. You give him a length he probably could have made $2 million."

Strike a Deal wasn't the only horse with a streak on the line this weekend - only this time, the connections of New Mexico-bred Peppers Pride were hoping for it to continue in Sunday's $177,615 Filly and Mare Championship at Zia Park in Hobbs, N.M. Under regular rider Carlos Madeira, Peppers Pride was fourth coming down the backstretch of the 1-mile race, made a strong bid for the lead on the final turn and won by a length. It was her 18th win in a row.

Called the "Queen of New Mexico Racing," Peppers Pride is a model of consistency; her win streak began back in July 2005. Her 16th consecutive win, the $75,000 Foutz Distaff Handicap at SunRay Park in Farmington, N.M., tied her for the modern North American Thoroughbred record shared by the likes of Cigar and Citation. She then broke that record with her 17th straight win in an allowance race at Zia Park in October.

Though the 5-year-old mare has only competed in New Mexico, and only against other New Mexico-bred females, breeder and owner Joe Allen is pleased with her accomplishments. "She just seems like she wants to win. She’s a wonderful mare." When asked about Peppers Pride's racing future, Allen hinted at retirement at the end of 2008. "We would love to retire her undefeated, but more than anything else, we want to retire her sound; she’s been so good to us."

Peppers Pride may have one final race ahead of her, the $125,000 New Mexico State Racing Commission Handicap at Sunland Park on Dec. 14. And with it, a chance to extend her win streak to 19 and cap off an amazing career.

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