Sweet Azteca © Benoit Photo
Pamela Zeibarth’s special 4-year-old filly Sweet Azteca just won for fun Sunday at Del Mar in the Grade III Rancho Bernardo Handicap, spotting five rivals from five to 10 pounds and handing them all a seven-length runaway score with rider Flavien Prat high in the saddle and simply “cruising” through the lane.
The gray daughter of Sharp Azteca assumed command out of the gate and was never pressed over the six and one-half furlongs, covering the distance in 1:15.60 and picking up $60,000 from the total purse of $100,500 for her special efforts.
Finishing second was Jaime Roberto Renella’s Chimosa, who just nipped Hronis Racing’s Anywho by a nose.
Sweet Azteca, bet down to 10-cents on the dollar, returned the minimum $2.20 to win.
Trainer Michale McCarthy had a chance to ship his stellar filly east to take on better rivals for more money, but chose to “stay home” and run at Del Mar, anticipating the coming of the Breeders’ Cup to the Southern California track and her likely entrance in the Filly & Mare Sprint on November 2. Today’s race was part of the Breeders’ Cup “Dirt Dozen,” meaning the winner now has assured herself a $15,000 fee toward entry into the race. Likely more importantly, it got her the highly desired “race over the track,” a factor that could play well come BC time.
Spreading the wealth, the Breeders’ Cup folks also will provide Chimosa’s connections with $7,500 toward the $1-million race. Third-place finisher Anywho additionally earned a credit of $3,750 toward the seven-furlong dash.
Sweet Azteca was winning her fifth race in her sixth lifetime start and her purse earnings increased her total funds to $481,200. The Rancho Bernardo was her fourth stakes victory.
Del Mar will not go on break for the next three days, but return to action at 2 p.m. Thursday. This coming Saturday the track will feature its piece de resistance – the $1-million FanDuel Raing Pacific Classic, one of five graded stakes on a superb afternoon of equine sport.
FLAVIEN PRAT (Sweet Azteca, winner) – “She was just cruising. No, no special instructions for me. Just ride her.”
MICHAEL McCARTHY (Sweet Azteca, winner) – “I wasn’t sure if someone was going to go ahead and try to get in front of her. She was awfully aggressive today. She bounced out of there and Flavien (Prat) was wonderful just getting her to settle up the backside.”
FRACTIONS: :22.08 :45.06 1:09.32 1:15.60
The stakes win was the first of the meet for rider Prat and his first in the Rancho Bernardo. He now has 95 stakes wins at Del Mar, tied for sixth-most (with Alex Solis) in track history.
The stakes win was the fourth of the meet for trainer McCarthy, but his first in the Rancho Bernardo. He now has 11 stakes wins at Del Mar.
The owner and breeder of the winner is Pamela Ziebarth of San Juan Capistrano, CA.