Foster’s four-timer highlighted by Pepper Stepper scorcher

TEVIN FOSTER extended his lead over back-to-back champion jockey Raddesh Roman to 10 winners with a four-timer yesterday, highlighted by a chance ride aboard United States-bred PEPPER STEPPER, who completed a hat-trick of victories with a gate-to-wire win in the Pinktober Trophy over six-and-a-half furlongs for trainer Jason DaCosta.

Replacing PEPPER STEPPER’s regular rider, Robert Halledeen, who stood down from his remaining mounts after winning the Reggae 6 Anniversary Trophy aboard MAVERICK for leading four-time champion trainer DaCosta, Foster settled the speedy American comfortably on the lead and was never seriously challenged.

After running RAINSVILLE and BOSS MAN off their legs down the backstretch through splits of 23.1 and 46.3, and negotiating the home turn with SUPREMASI mounting a chase for the local-breds, PEPPER STEPPER changed gears at 1:12.1 approaching the final half-furlong, producing a pace too strong for his middle-distance-inclined rivals.

The three-year-old stopped the clock in 1:19.0 as the 8-5 favourite, registering his fifth win from eight starts for owner Robert Thomas. Thomas is the son of Edmund Thomas, owner of War Zone, the 1996 Triple Crown winner trained by Jason’s late father, 18-time champion and Hall of Famer Wayne DaCosta.

PEPPER STEPPER’s victory over open-allowance company leaves the Tunwoo-Ribbing colt on the verge of grade-one company ahead of the Bruceontheloose Sprint on Mouttet Mile Day, scheduled for Saturday, December 5.

The colt could renew his rivalry with last year’s winner, fellow American OF A REVOLUTION, from Anthony Nunes’ barn. The seven-year-old was outpaced by PEPPER STEPPER in the Gerry Skelton Memorial over five furlongs straight on September 12.

Meanwhile, Foster, who lost the 2024 jockeys’ title to Roman by a half-length aboard MEDAL AWARD in the final race of the season while attempting to force a tie, strengthened his position in the first meet of October.

Foster began his four-timer aboard SLAM SHARP at odds of 2-1 in the third race for trainer Michael Marlowe, before adding 10-1 upset winner MODERN MONARCH to his tally with a come-from-behind victory in the fifth event over seven furlongs.

After his front-running success aboard PEPPER STEPPER, Foster closed the 10-race card by guiding 2023 Jamaica Derby winner ABILITY past THE GIFTED ONE to capture the nightcap as the 8-5 favourite over five furlongs straight.

The Ketch 9 paid $967,840 on mandatory-payout day, kick-starting October’s ‘Mandatory Magic’ promotion, which continues on Saturday with the Strike 4. Betting on the final four races opens with a jackpot of $2.4 million.