SUNLAND PARK, NM—APRIL 1, 2017—Running Dragon won her third straight stakes this season after demolishing her opponents in the $85,000 Sunburst Stakes at 350 yards Saturday afternoon at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.

Heavily bet at 1-5, Running Dragon made no mistakes as she sped to a wire-to-wire win in the co-featured event for New Mexico-bred three-year-olds fillies.

The star filly from the Juan M. Gonzalez barn zipped through the distance in a quick :17.378 seconds, into a 15-mph crosswind, to complete a hat trick of stakes wins this season.

The grey daughter of leading second crop sire Zulu Dragon was coming off impressive triumphs in the NMHBA Quarter Horse Stakes(RG2) and the Shue Fly(RG2). Adrian A. Ramos has been aboard the champ in all of her Sunland Park wins. The homebred filly is out of Banking Lane by Devon Lane (TB).

Running Dragon won the Sunburst by a half-length over the fast charging Princess Jessie Jane. Winning owners – By By JJ, LLC. took home the $51,000 first place check. Running Dragon has now won 10 times from 12 starts and carries lifetime earnings of $572,641. She is unquestionably the top New Mexico-bred three-year-old Quarter Horse filly in training.

Trainer Shae Cox saddled Princess Jessie Jane for owner Daniel Nunez. Jockey Esgar Ramirez had the riding call aboard the daughter of leading New Mexico sire Jesse James Jr from the Heza Motor Scooter mare A Scootin Princess. Bred by J&H and A&D Erickson, Princess Jessie Jane earned $18,700 to boost her career total to $52,460.

Frost Dalena finished a distant third, beaten over 2 lengths. Trainer Jimmy Guerra, Jr. saddled the Chicks Regard filly for owner Jeff Caron. Bred by Hughes Donaldson Horse Company, the gray filly picked up $8,500 for the effort. Out of Forced To Win by Major Rime, Frost Dalena had earned $53,048. Daniel Amaya was up,

Eyes Gona Flash You, First Vega Moon, First Lluvia Runaway, La Montesa, La Riena Del Sur, Miss Call Me First and Jess A Glance completed the field.

Live racing resumes on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.