Del Mar: Sweet Azteca dominates small field in Rancho Bernardo

It turned into a match race that was no match.

Odds-on favorite Sweet Azteca and second choice Formula Rossa dueled on the front end through blistering fractions before Sweet Azteca drew away to win by 3 1/2 lengths in the Grade 3, $100,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap at Del Mar.

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The 6 1/2-furlong sprint for fillies and mares had only four starters with defending winner Sweet Azteca (2-5) living up to her position as the class of the small field. Her long-term goal is the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint on the same track Nov. 1.

Ridden by leading Southern California jockey Juan Hernández, the 5-year-old Sharp Azteca mare was stalked by previously undefeated 3-year-old Formula Rossa (8-5) through early splits of 21.82 and 43.81 seconds.

The two leaders were as many as 10 lengths clear before they turned for home. Sweet Azteca opened her solo lead under Hernández’s hand ride through the stretch. She clicked off the first three-quarters of a mile in 1:08.53 before she cruised past the finish line with a final time of 1:15.44 on the fast main track.

Now 2-for-3, Formula Rossa finished second. Chismosa (11-1) crossed third, and Donttellourwives (21-1) came in last. Visually was scratched.

Sweet Azteca paid $2.80 and $2.10, and Formula Rossa returned $2.10. There was no show wagering.

Bred and owned by Pam Ziebarth, Sweet Azteca carried 7-9 more pounds than her three rivals in her second race for trainer Richard Baltas. Her first was a July 5 win in the Great Lady M (G2) at Los Alamitos. Before that she had been on a nine-month break during which she was moved from the barn of Michael McCarthy. Sweet Azteca’s biggest win came in the 2024 Beholder Mile (G1).