Pepper Spray won for the third time in as many starts with a hard-fought score in the $100,000 Riley Allison Derby on Jan. 30 at Sunland Park, besting Bye Bye Bobby by a neck (WATCH RACE).
Prior to Sunday’s thriller, the 3-year-old son of Tale of Ekati won the Lost in the Fog Juvenile S. and broke his maiden in his debut.
Early on in the one-mile contest, Pepper Spray was well off the leaders while taking up a spot along the rail. He started his rally at the half-way point, never leaving the fence as he moved to third with two furlongs to go. He took the lead in upper stretch, when Bye Bye Bobby suddenly appeared on his outside and poked his head in front. Pepper Spray responded gallantly and retook the lead and held off his foe in a nail-biting finish.
With the win, Pepper Spray has earned $114,456 for owner/breeder Roys Mansur and is half-brother to stakes winner Don’tpassthepepper.
Tale of Ekati, who stands for $5,000 S&N, is the sire of 34 black type horses and two champions
