Mayor Marv - the horse - racks up another win

A 3-year-old colt named after former Carson City Mayor Marv Teixeira won his second thoroughbred race of the year.

Mayor Marv won the Turf Paradise Derby in Phoenix on Saturday by 4 1/2 lengths. His first win was Jan. 17 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.

Mike Pegram, horse owner, said Mayor Marv has "been figuring it all out" since his third-place finish at his first race in August in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Pegram, co-owner of Bodines Casino in Carson City, has owned horses that have won the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

He has said he named the horse after Teixeira because he wants the horse to be "memorable" like the former mayor.

Teixeira said he has enjoyed watching the horse improve over his seven races. After a few second-place finishes and his first win, the horse came out strong Saturday for the $100,000 race, Teixeira said.

"He blew them away," the former mayor said.

Mayor Marv is a "dandy," but he does need to work on his concentration during the race, Teixeira said.

"He's still goofier than a bed bug," he said.

Pegram said Mayor Marv does best in longer races like the Turf Paradise Derby, which is just over a mile. The horse not only won there, "he looked good doing it," Pegram said.

"He's always been a horse that's needed to go around two turns," Pegram said.

He said he has no regrets naming the horse after Teixeira.

"The racing world won't forget him, just like Carson City won't," he said of Teixeira, who retired in January after three four-year terms.

Mayor Marv was bred from Miss Wineshine, also the mother of Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide, and Distorted Humor, a top-rated stud.

The horse's trainer, Bob Baffert, has managed horses such as Kentucky Derby winner Real Quiet, and horses that have won the Breeder's Cup, Belmont Stakes and Preakness Stakes.

David Flores, Mayor Marv's rider at the Turf Paradise Derby, has won the Breeder's Cup.

- Contact reporter Dave Frank at dfrank@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.