Pepper Stepper (Tunwoo – Ribbing) is no longer just fast — he’s learning how to be a race horse.

The three-year-old American-bred bay colt took another big step forward in his development on Saturday, September 12, 2026, living up to his name with a dominant wire-to-wire victory in the $1.25-million Gerry Skelton Memorial Trophy over five furlongs (1,000m) straight at Caymanas Park.

Pepper Stepper has always had natural early speed, but the maturity is now matching the talent.

Ridden by apprentice Shaheem Gordon, the colt broke sharply — as he has learned to do — and immediately seized control of the race. He dictated terms ahead of She’s That Girl (Raddesh Roman), Commander Z (Ian Spence) and Miss MoneyPenny (Tevin Foster), travelling comfortably rather than scorching away early as a younger sprinter might.

That restraint was the difference. He stayed within himself through the first half of the straight, and once he crossed the dummy rails, Gordon let him go. The response was instant. Pepper Stepper kicked clear with authority to win the Overnight Allowance event by three lengths in 58.2 seconds.

Of A Revolution (Reyan Lewis) ran on well late for second, with Salute The Don (Dane Dawkins) back in third.

It was the kind of performance that marks a sprinter coming into his own. Pepper Stepper is progressing exactly how you want a top-class sprinter to progress. Also, it was his first run at the Overnight Allowance level.

He has now won four races from seven starts on local soil since making his debut with a fifth place finish on December 13, 2025 over 5 ½ furlongs (1,100m).