When Sunday's racing ended at Sunland Park in New Mexico, Pepper's Pride had won the 19th race in her career. What was more important was the fact that Pepper's Pride, a five year-old mare bred in New Mexico, has raced 19 times.

The race was the New Mexico State Racing Commission handicap over 1200 metres. Pepper’s Pride came out of post six in the eight-horse field. Jockey Carlos Madeira let her loose turning for home and Pepper’s Pride bounded forward to win by five and three quarter lengths. The 9-10 favourite ran the distance in 1 09.54 seconds. Pepper’s Pride has earnings of over a million dollars. All her 19 wins have come at New Mexico tracks. Desert God is the sire. The dam is Lady Pepper who is by Chili Pepper Pie.

Jockey Madeira commented. "We had a great trip. She exploded late when I asked her. She gave me everything I could ever want."

Joel Marr trains Pepper's Pride."It is going to be hard to decide (about retiring) after such a terrific race. I want to thank everybody who has supported her from the two-dollar bettors, to the grooms and my family. She's the best horse I have ever touched."

Hollywood Park hosted the Grade I Hollywood Starlet on Saturday, a race over 1700 metres for freshman girls on the cushion track. Laragh, owned by the IEAH stables, made every post a winning one. Third in the BC Juvenile Fillies on the grass, Laragh was switching to the cushion surface. A 17-10 favourite, Laragh, a Tapit filly, ran the 1700 metres in 1 41.96.

Winning trainer John Terranova showered praise on his trainee. “She’s real classy, talented. She is a filly who knows where she wants to be in the race and when she feels somebody coming up on her, she’ll jump up on that bridle.”

Edgar Prado, the winning jockey, spoke matter-of-factly. “I was the speed of the race. The first quarter was very comfortable. She is still learning. Once she learns to relax without fighting, she’s going to be even better.”

The four Group I races run at Sha Tin in Hong Kong on Sunday produced results that were in keeping with the formbook with one exception.  Doctor Dino made a successful defence of his title in the 2400-metre Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase. Ridden by Olivier Peslier, the 13-10 public choice came from last to first to catch Purple Moon in the waning yards. The time was 2 29.14 seconds and the verdict was a shorthead. Half a length away in third was Jaguar Mail, Mick Kinane up.

Jockey Peslier had been doubting Doctor Dino’s form in recent pronouncements. Good horses raise their game when the situation warrants it and that is what Doctor Dino did.

It was another heartbreaking second for Purple Moon, a Luca Cumani trainee. Cumani said, “I now know he can run at the highest level. We will be in Dubai.”

The Hong Kong Sprint provided a shock result. Inspiration, ridden by Darren Beadman, came away victorious at 66-1. Inspiration won by a neck in 1.08.58. Green Birdie, Oliver Doleuze up, was the runner up. Apache Cat, the 9-10 favourite, took third. Marchand D’or, the French star, put up a discouraging showing.

 Jockey Darren Beadman spoke about the race. “My horse ran terrific. He jumped into the bridle really well and followed the favourite. I did not think he would sprint as quick as Apache Cat but he got past the favourite pretty quick and got into his line of running.”

Trainer John Moore let the cat out of the bag when speaking about why Inspiration ran in the Sprint. “I only put him there for the run. I was not expecting this, I can assure you. When Mark Player, the Hong Kong Club Racing Manager, rang me and asked me if I wanted to run, I said why not but I think we will be just making up the numbers.”

Christophe Soumillon rode Good Ba Ba to an easy win in the Hong Kong Mile. The Hong Kong star was defending his Mile Championship title. Andrea Schutz trains Good Ba Ba. The winning margin was two and one half lengths and the time was 1 32.71 second. Good Ba Ba was the 34-10 second favourite.

Armada, the 11-10 favorite, finished fifth. Kip Deville took ninth behind Major Cadeaux. Pressing was 10th and Natagora was 11th.

At the owner’s insistence, the jockey for Good Ba Ba was changed from Oliver Doleuze to Christophe Soumillon. The Belgian ace spoke about the switch. “It is not easy to take the horse off a friend but I spoke to Andreas before the race and I was convinced it was the right option. Good Ba Ba is a great miler, may be the best miler in the world.”

Trainer Schutz expressed his opinion. “I always thought he (Good Ba Ba) was a champion. We will have the same schedule in 2009 and we will have options in Dubai.”

Eagle Mountain, second in the BC Turf to Conduit, made amends in the Hong Kong Cup over 2000 metres. Ridden by Kevin Shea, Eagle Mountain won by a length and a quarter in a time of 2.00.92 seconds. Balius was the bridesmaid and Linngari, a Michael Stoute trainee, took third. Viva Pataca, the 3-10 favourite and the subject of a huge gamble, ran into road trouble and finished fourth.

Jockey Shea spoke about his ride. "It was a rough race. It did not go according to plan but it never does. He was always travelling well. I got a clear run turning for home. At the 400, I set him alight. He is much improved from America. Mike’s (de Kock) results speak for themselves. He has won races in about every country at the Grade I level."

There have been mixed signals coming out of the Breeder's Cup organization. A report came out effectively terminating BC- sponsored races because of poor economic conditions. Another report today said such a change will not take place. I believe that the situation will be sorted out in the near future.

Two weeks from today and I will be on my way to India. Chicago is very cold. There were three inches of snow on Tuesday. Winter does not officially begin until the fourth week in December.

Sources: NTRA, Racing Post, Hong Kong reports.