Fincher sends out five in Peppers Pride Stakes

SUNLAND PARK — Todd Fincher, a leader in the Sunland Park trainer standings this season, has entered five horses in Sunday’s 16th running of the $100,000 Peppers Pride Stakes.

The one-mile race for 3-year-old New Mexico-bred fillies is one of six stakes on a program headlined by the $500,000 Sunland Derby. First post is 12:25 p.m.

Fincher’s strongest contender appears to be the 2-1 second choice, I Am Paula Revere. Owned and bred by Reliance Ranches LLC, the filly is coming off a narrow second-place finish in the La Senora Stakes last month. The daughter of American Anthem has one win from four starts and more than $61,000 in earnings.

I Am Paula Revere and jockey Olaf Hernandez will break from the rail in the fifth race of the 10-race card.

Fincher also will send out Day At A Time, the 9-2 third choice. Owned by Dustin Brooks and bred by Fincher Racing LLC, the daughter of Marking won her maiden over this course recently. Luis Valenzuela will ride from post five. Fincher’s other entries include American Prada as well as long shots Who Said It’s Easy and Marka.

Trainer Dick Cappellucci will saddle the 9-5 morning-line favorite, Caprock Cutie. Ridden by Alfredo Juarez, the daughter of Marking is coming off a fourth-place finish in the La Senora Stakes. Before that, she won the Lea County Stakes at Zia Park by 4 1/2 lengths Dec. 16. Owned by Glen Robertson and Bobby McQueen, she has two wins in six starts and $116,000 in earnings.

Cappellucci, who holds a narrow lead over Justin Evans in the thoroughbred trainer standings, won last year’s Peppers Pride with Forty Five.

The field, with morning line odds and riders, for the $100,000 Peppers Pride Stakes:

1- I Am Paula Revere (2-1) Olaf Hernandez 

2- Desert Following (30-1) Enrique Gomez 

3- Who Said It’s Easy (12-1) Oscar Andrade, Jr. 

4- Unwound (15-1) Christian Ramos 

5- Day At A Time (9-2) Luis Valenzuela 

6- American Prada (6-1) Orlando Mojica 

7- Holy Miss (20-1) Francisco Amparan 

8- Marka (20-1) Christian Torres 

9- Caprock Cutie (9-5) Alfredo Juarez, Jr. 

On Thu, Feb 12, 2026 at 11:44 AM Steven Bortstein <sbortstein@tricityrecordnm.com> wrote: