Last year, horse trainer Todd Fincher saw talented filly Flying Connection win the Sunland Oaks.

This year, the New Mexico-based trainer has another star, 3-year-old filly with Candy Aisle. On Friday afternoon at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino, Candy Aisle proved her worth in winning the $65,000 Borderplex Stakes, a key prep race for the $250,000 Sunland Oaks.

“We’re pointing her to the Sunland Oaks and we’ve been working with her to run a longer distance and she’s coming along well,” Fincher said.

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Candy Aisle, who was the 2-5 post time favorite, has now won three straight races, all in New Mexico after debuting last summer at Del Mar. She won the Manzano Stakes at Albuquerque Downs before winning the Zia Princess Stakes last November. Candy Aisle, owned by G. Randy Andrews, Jim Cone, Brad King and R. Lee Lewis. She was offered at the 2022 Keeneland September Sale by Legacy Bloodstock.

After bobbling at the start and losing precious early position, the 3-year-old, Kentucky-bred daughter of Gun Runner was bottled up along the inside behind the leading pair of Raspberry Wine and Illusive Star down the backstretch. Jockey Felipe Valdez swung Candy Aisle to the outside turning for home and picked up a head of steam, rallying past Illusive Star in the final 100 yards to win by a length, racing 6 1/2 furlongs in a time of 1 minute, 16.9 seconds.

-edited from www.elpasotimes.com