Jalapeno Hot To Trot

Apap reckoned he was doing nicely picking up $8 about the chances of Jalapeno in the heats of the Group 1 Gold Cup (710m) at Albion Park last Thursday night.

Jalapeno (Kiowa Mon Manny-Brook Lee) was badly checked in the run to the first turn, but railed his way into contention and stormed home to win the heat in a fast 41.75.
And promptly paid $13.60 … which annoyed his breeder, owner and trainer Apap.
Jalapeno scored by three and a half lengths over early leader Shoes To Fill with a length and three-quarters to hot favourite Tornado Tears in third.
“I had to have something on him,” said Apap. “His run when fourth in the Winter Chase final the week before was enormous and it was the first time he had drawn a decent box with the one in this heat.
“But, I admit, down the back straight I had given him away when he was running last.”
Apap is amazed at the dog's performance to be checked, come from last and still run a slick 41.75 to win.
“It was looking an ordinary night before that with a couple of others from the kennel well drawn but not winning and then Bubble Guppy falling,” he said.
Jalapeno has always been a quality race dog and landed the Group 3 Queensland Cup back in January.
Of his chances in the final this week, Apap is disappointed his dog will have to come from a wide draw.
“And we all know Robbie Britton's three finalists can only improve on what they did in the heats,” he said.
“But our bloke is a dead set stayer and if he can get anywhere near them coming to the turn, he will be finishing on well.”
It was his 11th win in 38 starts and he has now earned almost $90,000 in stakes.