Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile: Sharp Azteca getting serious

Sharp Azteca could have the first of his four scheduled works leading up to the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Saturday, according to trainer Jorge Navarro. The move would be the horse’s first since he won the Kelso Handicap on Sept. 23 at Belmont Park.

The Dirt Mile is Nov. 3 at Del Mar.

Sharp Azteca was a four-length winner of the Kelso, a one-turn mile for which he earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 112. He is based at Monmouth Park.

:: BREEDERS’ CUP 2017: See DRF’s top contenders

“He came out of the race in great condition, and we’re thinking of giving him his first workout on Saturday,” Navarro said. “He’s going to have three workouts at Monmouth before jumping on a plane on Oct. 24. If everything goes good, he’ll have a workout at Del Mar on the 28th.”

Navarro said El Deal, pointing to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, will travel with Sharp Azteca.

Sharp Azteca has raced in Southern California before, finishing second in the Malibu in December at Santa Anita. The horse also hit the road for the Godolphin Mile in March and finished third in the race run in Dubai.

:: Breeders’ Cup Challenge: Results, replays, charts, and more

“He’s never had an issue with travel,” Navarro said. “That’s why I’m so comfortable moving along with him. Last year in California, I was pretty amazed the way he shipped.”

Closer to home, Sharp Azteca has run twice this year at Belmont, his other effort a runner-up finish to Mor Spirit in the Metropolitan Handicap. Sharp Azteca will bring six consecutive triple-digit Beyers into the Dirt Mile, including a 108 for the Monmouth Cup, a race the 4-year-old by Freud won in a track-record 1:40.19 for 1 1/16 miles.

“I always believed he was one of the top contenders since he was a 3-year-old,” Navarro said. “It’s coming together at the right time.”

Sharp Azteca races for Ivan Rodriguez, a businessman from Venezuela who has a farm in Ocala, Fla. Paco Lopez has the mount in the Breeders’ Cup.

Iron Fist shipped Tuesday from Oklahoma City to Southern California for an intended start in the Dirt Mile, according to trainer Steve Asmussen. Iron Fist has won four stakes this year, his most recent the Governor’s Cup on Sept. 24 at Remington Park. Other wins include the Grade 3 Cornhusker at Prairie Meadows.

Asmussen said the decision to target the Dirt Mile came after discussions with owner Whispering Oaks Farm.

:: Breeders' Cup PP packages: Get PPs, betting strategies, DRF+ Pro access, and more

“He’s put together some nice races, earned the opportunity,” he said.

Iron Fist hooked Mor Spirit earlier this year at Lone Star Park, where he finished third to that rival in the Steve Sexton Mile.

Giant Expectations will have his final prep for the Dirt Mile in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship on Saturday. Trainer Peter Eurton said the race was chosen because it’s been a proven path to Dirt Mile success. Goldencents won both of his Dirt Miles coming out of the Santa Anita Sprint Championship.