Pepper Stepper blows them away in 12¼-length rout
Three-year-old, American-bred, bay colt Pepper Stepper showed his true sprinting class on Saturday, July 4, 2026, running the Restricted Stakes field into the ground over 5½ furlongs (1,100m) to land his second win from four starts on local soil.
Trained by Jason DaCosta and ridden by Robert Halledeen, Pepper Stepper powered home by 12¼ lengths in 1:05.4. The splits told the story: 23.4, 46.4, 59.0.
He never gave his rivals a look-in.
Halledeen hustled the colt to the front from the gate. Pepper Stepper led Fernando with Shane Richardson, Novio under Tevin Foster, and Fidelity with Shaheem Gordon through the early stages. Approaching the distance the colt upped the tempo, then turned on the pressure in deep stretch and powered clear to finish well ahead of stablemates Novio and Midnight Traveller, ridden by Abigail Able.
The Restricted Stakes was open to imported three-year-olds and upward, non-winners of three, plus native-bred three-year-olds and four-year-olds, non-winners of four. None of them had an answer once Pepper Stepper hit top gear.
