Sweet Azteca, after Chillingworth misfire, in wait-and-see mode for BC Filly and Mare Sprint

ARCADIA, Calif. – Sweet Azteca’s puzzling misfire Saturday at Santa Anita did not knock her out of the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint yet, but trainer Michael McCarthy will take a wait-and-see approach before planning her next start.

Sweet Azteca was the 1-10 favorite in the Grade 3 Chillingworth Stakes based on successive victories in three highly rated graded stakes, and was pressured by eventual winner One Magic Philly in the 6 1/2-furlong Chillingworth. Sweet Azteca was unable to match strides with the winner nearing the quarter pole and finished last in the four-runner field, beaten 8 3/4 lengths.

On Sunday morning, McCarthy said early indications were Sweet Azteca was fine physically. The hope is her uncharacteristic performance could be chalked up to mental agitation.

“She seemed a little bit irritated down the saddling enclosure,” McCarthy said. “It was very hot and she was a little warm. That was quite unlike her. I hadn’t seen her like that before. Something seemed to not settle with her.”

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Temperatures were in the upper 90s Saturday, and Sweet Azteca was unable to shake clear from One Magic Philly in the Chillingworth. “I knew when she took pressure that something wasn’t right,” McCarthy said. Jockey Juan Hernandez basically eased her through the lane.

Sweet Azteca entered the Chillingworth as a leading contender for the BC Filly and Mare Sprint. She earned triple-digit Beyer Figures her last three starts, including a Grade 1 victory in the Beholder Mile in March at Santa Anita, followed by Grade 2 and Grade 3 runaways at Del Mar and Los Alamitos. McCarthy said a decision regarding the Breeders’ Cup will wait.

“We’re going to see how we are the next few days. If she seems like (it was) just a one-off type of deal, we’ll give it some thought, certainly. We’ll see how she is first, and worry about the Breeders’ Cup after that.”

Owned and bred by Pam Ziebarth, Sweet Azteca has won five races and $487,200 from seven starts, and was listed as the 3-1 favorite on the Daily Racing Form early odds line for the BC Filly and Mare Sprint. The misfire by Sweet Azteca is expected to shift early favoritism to New York-based Grade 1 winner Ways and Means or Kentucky-based Grade 1 winner Society.

A decision regarding the BC status of Chillingworth winner One Magic Philly, who earned a 92 Beyer, is pending.

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