Sunland Park: Career claimer is winner of Peppers Pride

A career claimer, Flaxy Lady (9-2) made her decisive move turning wide into the homestretch on the way to a two-length triumph Sunday in the $100,000 Peppers Pride Handicap, a one-mile race for New Mexico-bred fillies and mares at windy Sunland Park. 

Ridden by Miguel Pérez for trainer Lee Gutiérrez, Flaxy Lady stalked the early lead and stayed in touch while racing through a stiff headwind on the backstretch. Pérez took her six wide into the second turn and outdueled runner-up Our Time to Shine (2-1).

Click here for Sunland Park entries and results.

Shugs Charlie (12-1), who briefly held the lead in the second turn, finished third, 5 1/2 lengths behind Flaxy Lady. Dixie Jen (25-1), the pacesetting favorite Proofsinthepuddin (4-5) and Short Pockets (14-1) finished fourth through sixth, respectively, to complete the order of finish.

It was the first stakes win in 25 careers starts for the 7-year-old Firejack mare whose first five victories were in claiming races before she finished first last fall in a starter allowance. All her races have been in New Mexico.

Bred by Donnell Echols, Flaxy Lady was claimed by her current owner, Amanda Sweeten, for $7,500 after a victory last October at Zia Park.