Peppers Pride now nine for nine

Peppers Pride kept her record unblemished, posting her ninth win in as many starts with a handy win in Saturday's $100,000 Sydney Valentini Handicap at Sunland Park. Owned by Joseph Allen and trained by Joel Marr, the 3-year-old New Mexico-bred daughter of Desert God stalked the pace in third in the mile event for New Mexico-bred fillies and mares, came with a wide run into the lane to surget to the lead and edged away in the final furlong to win by 1 1/4 lengths over six rivals.

Ridden by Carlos Madeira, Peppers Pride covered the distance in 1:38.42. She paid $4.80 for the win; inexplicably she was not the favorite. The winner's share of $60,000 pushes her career earnings to $476,645 from those nine wins in as many starts.

La Mamie set the pace, tried to battle back when the winner came to her but couldn't keep up lae. She ended up three-quarters of a length ahead of Skirt Alert, the even-money favorite who pressed the pace, took over into the lane but couldn't sustain her run.