Sweet Azteca © Benoit Photo
Panela Ziebarth’s Sweet Azteca volleyed early with Muir Hut Stables’ Formula Rossa, but she put that one away nearing the quarter pole and went on to capture her second straight running of the Rancho Bernardo Handicap Sunday at Del Mar.
The 5-year-old gray mare by Sharp Azteca was three and a half lengths clear at the conclusion of the six and one-half furlong sprint run in 1:15.44. She was the 2/5 favorite in the field of four fillies and mares and returned a mere $2.80 to her backers in the Sunday crowd.
Finishing third in the dash was Jaime Renella’s Chismosa, who was two and three-quarters lengths behind Formula Rossa.
Juan Hernandez rode the winner for trainer Richard Baltas. Sweet Azteca carried 126 pounds under the handicap conditions of the race, spotting her rivals from seven to 12 pounds.
The winner earned a check for $60,000 for her efforts from the $100,000 purse. She now has total earnings of $667,200 after capturing seven of her nine lifetime starts.
The race was also part of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Dozen Bonus Series heading toward the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, that will be run at Del Mar on November 1. Sweet Azteca’s victory today means she has earned an additional $15,000 toward the $30,000 entrance fee for the $1-million race.
Racing will now go on a short break at the seaside oval, but return on Thursday with an eight-race card starting at 2 p.m. Next Saturday the track will host its biggest day of the season with five Graded stakes scheduled and topped by the 34th edition of the $1-million, Grade I Pacific Classic, which has drawn a stellar field and looms as one of the best races of the year.
JUAN HERNANDEZ (Sweet Azteca, winner) – “No, there was no problem with my horse running alongside that other one up the backstretch; my horse was enjoying it. She likes a good fight. They were going fast, but she was going easy. When we hit the quarter pole, I asked her and we were gone. She’s good.”
RICHARD BALTAS (Sweet Azteca, winner) – “I thought they went a little too fast but obviously they had a plan to hook me. I think that was a big mistake but they’re trying to win, we’re trying to win. My filly’s a lot bigger and stronger. His horse is super talented. No surprises.”
FRACTIONS: :21.82 :43.81 1:08.53 1:15.44
The stakes win was the seventh of the meet for rider Hernandez and his third in the Rancho Bernardo. He now has 59 stakes wins at Del Mar.
The stakes win was the first of the meet for trainer Baltas and his first in the Rancho Bernardo. He now has 22 stakes wins at Del Mar.
Owner Pamela Ziebarth is from San Juan Capistrano, CA.