NEW YORK >> Defending champion Miki Sudo captured the women’s division of the annual July Fourth hot dog eating contest at Nathan’s Famous in Coney Island on Saturday with a flourish that emphasized strategy rather than condiments.

The Las Vegas woman ate 38 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes to claim the title for the second straight year, along with the $10,000 that comes with it.

She retained the coveted mustard yellow winner’s championship belt after downing four more wieners than last year and besting Sonya "Black Widow" Thomas of Alexandria, Virginia, who devoured 31 hot dogs.

Sudo employed a successful strategy of eating the hot dogs separately from the buns and swallowing the buns after first dipping them in Crystal Light.

A very light rain fell off and on before the event got underway.

The colorful holiday tradition draws its share of characters. Someone walked around dressed as a giant hot dog.

The security included police dogs that apparently were not thrown off by the scent of the grilled meat, along with police officers on rooftops.