Sweet Azteca sizzles to Rancho Bernardo victory
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DEL MAR, Calif. – Sweet Azteca dueled with a determined rival in Formula Rossa before pulling clear to win Sunday’s Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap at Del Mar in a key prep race for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on the same track on Nov. 1.
Sweet Azteca ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.44, the fastest running of the Rancho Bernardo Stakes since Taris was clocked in 1:15.31 in 2015. Sweet Azteca earned a 93 Beyer Speed Figure for her victory on Sunday.
As a heavy favorite, Sweet Azteca ($2.80) was supposed to win the $98,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap for fillies and mares. She overcame a fast pace to do so.
Starting from the outside post in a field of four, Sweet Azteca led by a half-length over 8-5 Formula Rossa through an opening quarter-mile in 21.82 seconds. The pair were separated by only a head after a half-mile in 43.81 before Sweet Azteca gradually began to pull away.
With a furlong remaining, Sweet Azteca led by 1 1/2 lengths. She won by 3 1/2 lengths over Formula Rossa. Asked about the speed duel, winning trainer Richard Baltas said, “I wasn’t really concerned. I was surprised.”
Formula Rossa “is really nice,” he said.
Chismosa, a five-time stakes winner, closed from last of four to finish third, beaten 6 1/4 lengths. Donttellourwives was last. Visually was scratched on Sunday morning in favor of an allowance race at five furlongs on turf on Friday.
Sweet Azteca, ridden on Sunday by Juan Hernandez, won her fifth stakes in the Rancho Bernardo, a race she won last year by seven lengths. In her only previous start this year, Sweet Azeteca won the Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs at Los Alamitos on July 5 in track record time of 1:14.32. With that win, Sweet Azteca lowered her own track record of 1:14.33 from a win in the 2024 Great Lady M.
With those credentials, Sweet Azteca was the 126-pound highweight in the Rancho Bernardo. Formula Rossa, ridden by Antonio Fresu, was booked to carry 115 pounds, but carried 117.
Sweet Azteca, who races for owner and breeder Pamela Ziebarth, followed her win in the 2024 Rancho Bernardo with a last-place finish of four in the Grade 3 Chillingworth Stakes at Santa Anita last October in her final start of the year.
Over the winter, the 5-year-old mare was transferred from trainer Michael McCarthy to Baltas.
In the winner’s circle on Sunday, Baltas said Sweet Azteca “might not run until the Breeders’ Cup.”
Formula Rossa, trained by Mark Glatt, had her third start in the Rancho Bernardo. She won a maiden race at Santa Anita in February, and an allowance race at Del Mar on Aug. 3. Glatt was not discouraged by the loss on Sunday.
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