ARCADIA, Calif. – Despite finishing last as the odds-on favorite in her most recent start eight months ago, Sweet Azteca returns with an air of invincibility on Sunday at Santa Anita.

Sweet Azteca faces just three rivals in the $100,000 Desert Stormer Stakes, a six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares that is the first start in a campaign owner-breeder Pam Ziebarth and new trainer Richard Baltas hope leads to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 1.

It was a long time between drinks for Charlene’s Dream when she returned from an eight-month layoff to win the Grade 3 Gallorette on the Preakness Stakes undercard. She goes back for another round quickly this time in the Grade 3, $250,000 Mint Julep Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the turf Sunday at Churchill Downs.

World Record in the Aristides and World Beater in the Audubon, two of five Churchill stakes Saturday, just missed the cut for this Weekend GamePlan. I like both horses well enough but found three better options.

Regret

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Bill Mott said the decision to skip the Preakness with Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty doesn’t put any more pressure on him to win the Belmont Stakes than otherwise already exists.

“It would be the same,” Mott said Thursday morning outside his Saratoga barn. “I feel the normal pressure of wanting to win and just the pressure of keeping him out of trouble and keep him sound and hope he stays sound.”

The $100,000 Jersey Derby at Monmouth Park on Saturday may be one of many turf stakes impacted by rainfall in the Northeast this weekend. Trainer Mark Casse and 3-year-old colt Dream On remain undaunted.

Coming off a fifth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf last year, Dream On returned in January and has since won two of three starts. The Jersey Derby will be his fifth race at a mile.

“Honestly, when we went to the Breeders’ Cup, I thought he was one of our best chances,” Casse said. “He ran well in the Breeders’ Cup, they just caught him late.”

The last time Mystik Dan raced at Churchill Downs, he snuck up the rail under Brian Hernandez Jr. and won a three-horse photo finish to capture the Kentucky Derby. Thirteen months later, in the Grade 3, $275,000 Blame Stakes on Saturday, Mystik Dan can finally, fully validate that Derby victory.

With several New York shippers bowing out of the $100,000 Rehoboth Stakes at Delaware Park on Saturday, R Disaster, a 4-year-old filly trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., will likely become an overwhelming presence in a shorter field.

“She’s in good form,” Joseph said. “Has worked well since [the Grade 3 Vagrancy]. Goes there the deserving favorite.”

ARCADIA, Calif. – Nysos is no longer perfect, but he is formidable.

Four weeks after the first defeat of his career, a runner-up finish on a sloppy track in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes, Nysos resumes his march to prominence Saturday at Santa Anita.

Nysos faces four rivals in the Grade 3 Triple Bend, a seven-furlong sprint that also marks the return of Grade 2 winner Dr. Venkman. Others entered are 2023 Triple Bend winner Spirit of Makena, improving 3-year-old Smooth Cruisein, and likely pacesetter Vlahos.