Peppers Pride makes it 14 for 14

Peppers Pride pushed her unbeaten streak to 14 when she drove to a 1 1/2-length win in the $125,000 New Mexico State Racing Commission Handicap at Sunland Park. She was the 127-pound highweight in the six-furlong race for New Mexico-bred fillies and mares, spotting her rivals between nine and 14 pounds. Hollywood Gone, weighted at 117, finished second after setting the pace in the race, while it was another four lengths back in third to Hang Glide.

Peppers Pride stalked the pace in third as Hollywood Gone set fractions of 22.73 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.34 for the half-mile mark. Peppers Pride overtook Hollywood Gone in the late stages to cover the distance in 1:10.24. Carlos Madeira rode the winner for Joe Allen, who bred and owns Peppers Pride.

"There was a lot of pressure on us for the past two weeks," said Joel Marr, who trains Peppers Pride. "I feel like a big weight has been moved off my shoulders."

Peppers Pride, the 1-10 favorite with $145,683 of the $151,081 show pool bet on her, returned $2.20, $2.10, and $2.10. She earned $75,000 for the win, which pushed her career earnings to $756,675. Peppers Pride is now two wins from tying the modern mark of 16 consecutive wins shared by Cigar, Citation, Hallowed Dreams, and Mister Frisky.

* Also on the card, Romeos Wilson ($12) defended his title in the $125,000 Johnie L. Jamison when he rallied for a one-length win over Some Ghost. Alfredo Juarez rode the winner for trainer Fred Danley.